Kona Inspired Results 4/3/2013 -Introducing Andrew's Story

Andrew and Tanya (Mother)

I had the opportunity to speak with Tanya Turner of Salem, OR today via Skype to talk about the current challenges that she is undergoing with her son Andrew.  It is always a blessing to correspond with parents. As hard as it is sometime, I love to share their stories with you because it puts faces to the statistics that every 4 1/2 minutes a child is born with a congenital anomaly.

Andrew is nearly 9 months old, but he and his mother have gone through so much since January. Andrew’s conditions are stil speculative and tests are currently underway to confirm the follow conditions:

Andrew Undergoing Treatment

• Infantile spasms- is a specific type of seizure seen in an epilepsy syndrome of infancy and childhood known as West Syndrome
• Failure to thrive- refers to children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is significantly lower than that of other children of similar age and gender.
• GERD-a chronic digestive disease that occurs when stomach acid or, occasionally, bile flows back (refluxes) into your food pipe (esophagus)
• Hypotonia- a state of low muscle tone (the amount of tension or resistance to stretch in a muscle), often involving reduced muscle strength.

The doctors have done several tests to confirm his conditions, but sadly the results are not enough for her insurance company to accept financial responsibility.  This happens more often than most may realize.  Insurances are not out to pay for claims, so they will do whatever they can to deny they claim if possible.  This slow process frustrates parents who are just doing their best to get the adequate treatment of for their children. Parents give up all the time because they lose hope because they know that without insurance, their child's care is compromised unless outside help steps in like a lawyer, advocate, or just plain donations towards care. 

Rachel and I know this from our experiences with Shawn.  I watch my wife's determination to do what she had to do to get everything to our insurance provider.  There were somethings that we even gave up the battle on.  We were fortunate that we could pay for it on our own or had family assistance.

While speaking with Tanya, I got to do the most rewarding part of this job. I was able to look at her and tell her, "I know, I have been there.  You are not alone! We are here to help."  Hope is free for us to offer is certain situations, and when I get the chance I try to give it.  I also explained to her that we would do what we could to get Andrew's Story out. 

Andrew at 8 months old (Currently the size of 3 month old)

At the right of the page we have a picture of Andrew that link you to his medical need fundraiser page. If you feel inclined to help with his medical treatment, we ask that you please donate his page.  If you can't donate, at least let others know about this fundraiser pager, or if you live in the Portland or Salem area, call the news channels and ask them to tell Andrew's story.  The have already been sent the press releases. Thank you

Here are the results of todays "Kons Inspired" views: 

		Views	Daily Views
1	Kona hopeful F16 pilot	8248	537
2	Fireman Brian's Mission	6705	904
3	Boudousa Brain	6691	523
4	Shawn's Ironman	2919	32
5	Suck It Cancer	2797	214
6	Green Dot (Henry Tolstedt)	2464	125
7	The Quadfather (Nick Tieney)	1183	11
8	Eric Yollick (Team Yollick)	959	35
9	Dr. Martin Jay Hernandez Motivational Specialist	851	86
10	I'm Dean Bullock, I Have Brain Cancer	790	790
11	From the Bathroom to Kona	735	174
12	Isabella' Legacy	594	6
13	Dad's Great Day	540	62
14	Kona for the Kids	511	96
15	Happy Birthday Ironman	467	2
16	Operation Brain Tumor (Ted Pepenhagen II)	431	30
17	Spirit of Hawaii (Anja Kraft)	375	15
18	The Opportunity	309	1
19	Iron driven lifestyle	296	8
20	I am ... "Anything is possible" (Milan Dubravka)	290	4
21	A race for the women in my life	269	7
22	Crash To Kona (TychoRiis Weiche)	264	2
23	my biggest dream (Christian Schon)	224	4
24	Dean Kashlan Mantra (Dean Kashlan)	199	1
25	IRONMAN-BAWDO	149	7
26	Kona Inspired, Ironman retun…Heart Condition	135	82
27	Life Long Journey	93	18
28	Choose to be well!	80	19
29	Jacob Fuka_Kona Inspired	61	61

Thank you all for your support by voting and sharing for www.sendshawnsironmantokona.com daily.  Together as a community, Anything is Possible!