A little boy named Patrick

Let me tell you about a little boy named Patrick. Patrick has got to be one of the cutest kids ever! He has the sweetest brown eyes, always has a smile, and has the cutest laugh I have ever heard. But Patrick is living with a life threatening condition called Short Gut Syndrome which means he is missing most of his intestines. Without intestines he is dependent on IV nutrition. Having to live on IV nutrition is hurting his liver and his liver will eventually become scarred and will fail. He needs a transplant before that happens. He was given a life expectancy of 1-2 years. He is a year and a half now.


What makes Patrick extra special to me, is that he has an extra special family. His Aunt is my friend Jill. His mom is Jill's sister, my new friend Emily. Emily and her husband Brian, adopted Patrick when he was just over a week old. They knew his prognosis when they adopted him, but they fell in love with him. How could they not, he is a doll!

I told you he had the sweetest smile:

And who wouldn't fall in love with this little one, I mean look at his eyes:

Patrick's mom and dad got a surprise when he was just a few months old. The courts approved their adoption finalization months before the normally would have so that they wouldn't have trouble with insurance companies. They were able to finalize his adoption and take him to the temple to be an eternal family:

He really is a happy little boy. He has had many, many hospital stays, but through it all he remains happy. Always with a smile for everyone around him.

You can easily see why he is the light of his mommy and daddy's lives.

With the cost of a transplant often exceeding $500,000, many transplant patients are unable to shoulder the financial burden of such a procedure. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients.

Because intestinal transplants are not done here in Utah, Patrick's local dr.'s recommended that he be seen at Seattle Children's Hospital. Doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Washington recommended a life-saving small bowel/intestinal transplant. An estimated $70,000 is needed to help with transplant related costs.

Paul Cardall and some of his friends are putting together a benefit concert with 100% of funds raised going to help Patrick.

To get tickets for this fabulous concert go here:

http://www.showclix.com/event/9223/

Tickets can also be bought at the door. There will be a silent auction starting at 6:00 and the concert at 7:00. Again, 100% of funds raised go to help with transplant related expenses.

A list of items from the silent auction can be found here: http://www.cotaforpatrickh.com/node/885

To learn more about Patrick and how you can help: http://cotaforpatrickh.com/