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Local kids to benefit from P.A. fundraiser

Aug 20, 2018 | 5:00 PM

A gala event in Prince Albert next month will help three local families, who have been inundated with steep medical bills.

The Optimist Club of Prince Albert announced the recipients for its fourth annual Fall Gala. Shauna’s McKee’s nearly one-year-old son Tatum is one of the recipients.

“We feel grateful. Tatum has been through some ups and downs since he was born” she said.

Tatum has Biliary Atresia, a rare liver disease that occurs in infants. A Kasai Procedure was done to help prevent liver failure but the procedure does not offer any guarantees. Tatum was diagnosed with suspected cholangitis, one of the many common complications after the surgery and is now on daily doses of numerous expensive medications. McKee told paNOW she pays on average $250 per month for medications and they’ve had to pay for numerous trips to Edmonton and Saskatoon.

“His next appointment is this week in Edmonton and we are looking for some more answers as to what our next steps are,” she said.

The expenses continue to take a toll on the Thompson family’s finances. Zarah Thompson was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome (RS), a neurological disorder, which as of last July has also led to epilepsy. Her mother Breann said the family is staying strong.

“It’s been tough but it’s our life and we know nothing else,” Thompson said.

Rett Syndrome causes regression of acquired skills. It takes away the ability to speak and function typically by interrupting the gross motor function of the body. Zarah recently received her Tobii Dynavox communication system and is just beginning to learn how to manipulate the computer with just her eyes. All this of course still comes at a huge expense.

“We were actually nominated by a close family friend and it couldn’t help us out more at this time of our life,” Thompson said.

This year’s third recipient is Keaton Constant, a three-year-old who was born with a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart as well as a missing conduit. Keaton had his first heart surgery in 2014. His second heart surgery was a short six months later. He was born with under-developed femurs or thighbones which are almost non-existent while his “knees” are in his hips. Keaton was born with numerous skeletal anomalies. He recently had surgery on both feet. He will require a minimum of two additional heart surgeries in Edmonton. Mother Candace said the family was thrilled to hear they were named a recipient.

“Me and my husband were just talking about how it’s going to relieve a lot of our financial hole we have kind of dug ourselves just in medical expenses,” she said.

The Constant family had more than its fair share of struggles. Candace’s other son Kylar, a one-year-old, was diagnosed with Aplastic anemia and last January underwent a stem cell transplant. He will also likely require more trips to Calgary or Edmonton.

The fall gala, scheduled for Sept. 29 at the Prince Albert Exhbition Centre, will consist of a door prize, West Jet Raffle, Case IH barbecue raffle, silent auction, games, supper, dance, and a vendor alley.

 

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell