A note from my sister ..

(Click on Photo Above to see a larger version)
Message from my sister, K follows:

"Well, you would think someone who does fundraising for living would have no concern about sending out a message like this - but it feels a bit different when you are making a personal request. So, here it goes...

My roommate and one of my very best friends from college, had a beautiful baby boy last October, named Alex. However, on his second day of life he experienced his first seizure, and things only got worse. On a good day, Alex would have seizures every 15 minutes. On a bad day, he would seize for 8-10 hours.

After many months, many doctors, needles pricks, medications and tests, Alex was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor called a Hypothalamus Hematoma. Fortunately, there is one doctor in all the country that could perform the life-saving surgery he needed, and at the beginning of July, Jenny, her husband Greg and baby Alex jumped a plane for Arizona, and there Alex had two brain surgeries.

This surgery was truly a miracle (and I thank all of you who prayed for him!), and I'm so happy to say that as of today, Alex has not yet had a seizure! However, this story is not over. Baby Alex is still on a great deal of medications, and will need extensive therapy. Alex had a stroke during the first brain surgery and unlike most 10 month old babies, Alex does not sit-up on his own or even roll-over. Though, with a lot of hard work, Alex has a very promising future.

It doesn't take a lot to figure out emotionally what this does to a family, but what a lot us don't know is what it does FINANCIALLY. Jenny and Greg were a two-income family, which over the past year has been primarily one. Not to mention the FLOOD of bills from his nearly continuous hospital stays since birth, brain surgeries, medications, therapy, etc..

My roommates from college & me, are organizing a benefit (in Cincinnati, Ohio) for Baby Alex in hopes to help lessen pain of this experience, at least financially.

If you can, please attend. If you would like to make a donation checks should be made out to "The Alex Keener Fund", you can send it to the address listed on the flyer, or contact me and I'll send you an address. If you're in Ohio - you can donate directly to the Alex Keener Fund at any FifthThird bank location."

Thank You