This note is about an unfortunate situation that my neighbor and good friends are enduring. Their son, Evan, is gravely ill and needs our prayers and help.
Please take a moment to read the information below. My hope is that one day soon Evan will be healthy enough to fish with his little friend/my son as well as with his father on his boss' boat 'Heatwave' out of Edgewater, MD and Wachapreague, VA.
This Thanksgiving be thankful for your health and the health of your loved ones.
Paul Hannum
PLEASE SUPPORT "EVAN'S FUND"
Three year-old Evan Lindberg is fighting for his life. In September 2006, he was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive pediatric cancer that had spread throughout his body. Only about 325 children a year are stricken with this late-stage disease in the U.S. Evan's total medical expenses are likely to reach $1 million; his family's responsibility will likely run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Please consider making a donation to Evan's Fund so that his family can pay for the treatment that may save his life. Donations can be made to:
Evan's Fund
c/o Health and Medicine Counsel of Washington
507 Capitol Court NE, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20007
Evan's Fund was established by Gavin's employer with an initial donation of $25,000 so that Wendy and Gavin can make treatment decisions based on that is best for Evan. Friends of the Lindberg family are administering the fund. Although tax laws do not allow donations to be tax deductible, anyone wishing to review the account expenditures is welcome to do so.
EVAN'S STORY
During Labor Day weekend, Evan began complaining that his leg hurt. Wendy and Gavin assumed he had pulled a muscle or had growing pains. After a few days of repeated complaints from Evan, who rarely complains about anything, they took him to the pediatrician. The doctor performed an x-ray that revealed nothing abnormal. The pain continued throughout the week (despite regular doses of Tylenol), but then seemed to go away.
A week later the pain was back and worse than ever. Evan was unable to run and walked with a severe limp. At times he cried due to the pain. The family went back to the pediatrician once again. The doctor took blood from Evan, put him on Tylenol 3 and told The Lindbergs to come back the next day. The following afternoon the pediatrician recommended a CT-scan which revealed a mass in Evan's abdomen. The Lindbergs were instructed to admit Evan to Children's National Medical Center in Washington , DC that night. Within 24 hours of the CT-scan, a preliminary diagnosis of neuroblastoma was made. The next day, Evan underwent major surgery to remove the primary cancerous tumor from his abdomen. Further diagnostic tests revealed that the cancer had spread to his legs, spine, arms and other areas. Evan then began what would be the first of many lengthy rounds of chemotherapy. Since his diagnosis and surgery, Evan has continued to be treated at Children's National Medical Center in Washington , DC . He has spent the majority of his days and nights in the hospital. Unfortunately, Evan has lost a lot of weight and has recently been placed on a daily nutritional infusion regimen. He no longer looks like the happy little boy in the picture - instead, he looks like he is fighting for his life.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Wendy and Gavin have decided that Evan's best chance for survival is a unique monoclonal antibody treatment performed exclusively at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York . Done in conjunction with chemotherapy, the antibody (3F8) is designed to specifically target and eliminate the neuroblastoma cells.
The antibody therapy is supported by a clinical trial through the National Cancer Institute and is FDA approved only for patients at Sloan-Kettering. In addition to the antibody regime, continued chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Evan may require more surgery to rid his body of the cancer. Needless to say, Gavin and Wendy are prepared to do whatever it takes to get Evan the treatment he requires, but they need our help.
Please consider giving to Evan's Fund so his family can afford the treatment he needs.
* For more information about Evan's Fund contact Chris Healey at cphealey@verizon.net.
Boy this hits close to home. My eight month old daughter was diognosed with this same form of cancer almost twenty years a go. She endured more in fours years than most in a life time. We were extremely fortunate that she won the battle, she'll celebrate her 21st birthday come January. Please pass on to the family not to give up hope or another opinion during this tough battle...Prayers along with a donation sent...God Bless
3 Blue Marlin and a Sailfish one day out of MHC and 750+ Blue 17 Whites out of Pirates Cove
Occupation
Paying for my habit
Paul thank you for passing this unfortunate news along on behalf of myself and my buissness a donation will be made. I hope and pray Lord that you will hear these prayers and grant this child Evan one of your own a second chance he has and will endure more than most he has the strength and will to survive please cast your light upon him and grant him a long and prosperous life give his family the strength to help him through this we will all keep him in our hearts and prayers. Good luck little Evan you have many praying for you.
Here are a couple of Evan Updates from last week - one from Wendy, Evan's mom and the other from my wife. Evan is doing well but still faces a very long road ahead. He is one tough little man.
Hi again,
A brief update from today... I had to wake Evan up to go this morning and he was in an awful mood for about 3 hours after that. He fell asleep on me while we were waiting for the CT scan (waited for 2 hours) Evan got no sedation for his CT scan (yea). Then he got bloodwork done. So far the CT scan is looking good. There's something they couldn't see very well so they want to do an ultrasound early next week. Also, I was able to give blood in between events so yea on that! We will put this one in the "good day" column, I would say. Big fat yea! Wendy
I just wanted to give you a quick update on Evan. I watched Evan this evening so that Wendy and Gavin could go out to dinner with a gift card that a bunch of us got them for their birthdays. Evan and I played the whole time they were at dinner. He was running all over, playing cars, coloring, doing playdough, etc. Just like any 3 year old. It was so great to see. He looks very good too. Tomorrow (Sunday) they go to Children's for bloodwork and possibly another transfusion. They don't have to stay the night, but they will return Monday for the harvesting procedure at Children's. Gavin said it's fairly involved and will be a full day for Evan. Then they may even have to return on Tuesday for an ultrasound of the one spot they have in question from the CT Scan from last week. The doctors were pretty sure it is nothing to be concerned with, but they want to check it out anyway. Then they just wait to see what happens next. They will either head up to NY at that time or start the next round of chemo here depending on the NY docs look at the ct scan, etc. Gavin said they are really just playing it day by day. The good news is that they have now been home from the hospital for a nice long time and Evan seems to be doing great. Just wanted to pass along some good news! Amy
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