There will be a fundraiser at the Canton Recreation Park Sunday to help defray the costs two families are incurring to provide cancer treatment for their babies.
Elaina Grace Mathis, 1, is fighting Rhabdoid cancer. She is facing blood transfusions, biopsies, radiation and chemotherapy treatments, along with surgery to remove a kidney and tumor.
Major Brantley Hooper, 17 months old, was diagnosed with Wilms cancer. He is undergoing chemo and radiation treatments, blood transfusions and biopsies. Like Elaina, he is facing surgery to remove a tumor and kidney.
The event is from noon to 5 p.m. and will feature a bake sale, hotdog plates, a car show, bounce houses, live music and entertainment. There will be raffle tickets and a 50/50 drawing.
“Come out and help support these precious babies and their families,” said Amber Smith, who is helping plan the event along with her friend, Misty Smith Caldwell. “All proceeds go to the children and their families to help with medical expenses.”
When Caldwell and Smith heard about the babies stricken with cancer, it weighed so heavily on their minds, they knew they needed to do something.
“The families have so many expenses that aren’t covered by insurance,” Smith said. “The mothers can’t work with all the appointments, trips to the clinic for chemo and radiation.”
In addition to travel and food costs with all the time both babies have spent in the Mission Pediatric Hall, the families needed to buy special medical devices, larger clothing to facilitate the ports for chemo and so much more.
“When you work every week and budget your funds, you don’t plan on a catastrophic event like your baby being diagnosed with cancer,” Smith said. “I just can’t imagine how that feels. Our hearts go out to both families and these precious babies.”
Smith said both babies are bright, beautiful children that can and will do wonderful things in their lives.
“Right now, their families need a boost to help them. I just hope people feel what Misty and I have felt, come out, buy tickets, food plates, enter the car show, support and donate with an open heart,” Smith said. “It’s a good cause — just look at their little faces.”
For more information on how to help, donate items or volunteer, call Caldwell at 734-0084 or Smith at 400-7563.
Source: Help support babies with cancer | News – The Mountaineer
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