This Saturday, I was able to witness something simply amazing. I got to see volunteer, athlete, and family come together all under one room during the H.O.P.E. Flag Workshop organized by the co-founder of the Museum of Cultural Arts of Houston (M.O.C.A.H.), Rhonda Adams.Shawn, Rachel, and I arrived to the Museum just in time to see two canvas framed with the outline of the flag design. Team Shawn's Anomaly member Shauna came with us as well and was excited to see that she was going to be able to be a part of the painting as well.
Shortly after the workshop started, Mandy Feltner arrived her three beautiful children including little Patrick who was born with the same thing that Avery of with Avery's Angels was born with: Gastroschisis.Gastroschisis is a birth defect in which an infant's intestines stick out of the body through a defect on one side of the umbilical cord.
If gastroschisis is found before birth, the mother will need special monitoring to make sure her unborn baby remains healthy. Plans should be made for careful delivery and immediate management of the problem after birth.
Treatment for gastroschisis is surgery to repair the defect. A surgeon will put the bowel back into the abdomen and close the defect, if possible. If the abdominal cavity is too small, a mesh sack is stitched around the borders of the defect and the edges of the defect are pulled up. Over time, the herniated intestine falls back into the abdominal cavity, and the defect can be closed.
Other treatments for the baby include nutrients by IV and antibiotics to prevent infection. The baby's temperature must be carefully controlled, because the exposed intestine allows a lot of body heat to escape.When I asked Mandy if she would like to paint the "O" of the flag that was the awareness color of Gastroschesis, you see the joy in her face. To see more of Patrick's story: CLICK HERE
The entire day was very special, but the highlight was when Mandy placed Patricks name on the flag personally. This meant a lot to all of us that were in the room. It has somewhat left me speechless. In fact, I am surprised that I was able to write the words that I just wrote.
There was one other thing that only one person that day picked up on: I never touched the flag. I did that on purpose. Something came over me when I started to see the colors of the flag come together that told me that the first time that I would be able to touch the flag was when it was handed to me in Kona at the Ironman World Championship Finish Line. I can't wait to do this or these families, and I now depend on all of you to make this happen.
I want to give a special thanks to Rhonda for organizing this amazing event and Malcolm for coming out and capture everything on video. Once we get done with the final cut we will release on the Facebook and Twitter feeds. Stay tuned.
Thank you all for your continued support.
Check out other pictures of the event:
Click To Enlarge!
