A Chance to Help a Little Boy in Need

An event Saturday at Salem's Red Lion Hotel will benefit the small boy who needs a transplant.

Photos of Terick and his mom courtesy: John Strauch

(SALEM) - A one-year old Salem boy that was born with Gastroschisis needs the support of his community and a special event Saturday will allow residents a chance to do just that.

Terick needs your help

Little Terick's problems at birth were huge, and doctors initially believed that he would not live a week. As time has passed however, he has grown and improved in some respects, but his challenges remain daunting.

He was born with his intestines and stomach on the outside of his body in the womb. He was born with many other complications and this condition resulted in Terick having a liver disease as well as having short-bowel syndrome. He is currently waiting to be listed for a small-bowel and liver transplant. He will be receiving his transplant at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford in Palo Alto, CA.

Funds raised will help pay his mom Laura's expenses while she is living in California with her son. Laura is a single mom who has been fighting to keep her baby alive and well for the past year. Though medical insurance will cover the surgery, Laura will have to be off work for a minimum of three months, but probably longer.

The fundraising event for Terick happens Saturday, February 24th 2007 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Red Lion Hotel ~ Jefferson III Banquet Hall ~ 3301 Market Street NE, Salem, Or 97301

Organizers say you can help by:

• Shopping at one of the booths available (a % of all sales will be donated)
Buying a Raffle Ticket
Making a cash donation
Making a commitment to make a monthly contribution while Laura is unable to work

Terick is absolutely in need of a liver and small intestinal transplant. His mom says he just can't be put on the transplant list at this time because of how little he is. He has been losing weight for the past month and a half, but his goal weight to be listed for transplant is 20-25 pounds. He is currently at 16. Until he reaches his goal weight, the transplant surgeries are not even an option due to the complications that he would encounter because of his body not being strong enough to handle it.

Laura recognizes that many individuals in need of transplant don't make it as a result of organs failing while waiting for transplant, however the nurse practitioner she spoke with she seems to think that Terick will have no problem gaining the weight that he needs prior to needing his transplants as long as his caloric intake is increased.

If he does gain enough wait for the transplant to be done, there is only a 50% chance he will make it out of surgery, and there is only a 50% chance that his organs will not go into rejection. The small intestines are the organ on the top of the list to go into rejection. Terick's body will decide how it will handle the surgeries. After transplant, he would be on 15 different medications, eventually tapering down to three, of which he'd be on for the rest of his life.

There is a patient who had the same procedure and is now 19-years old, Terick's mother says she is realistic but doing everything she can do and she appreciates the help she is receiving from the community.

If you can't attend the event, please send a check to the above address.