Hi. My name is Lauren. I've been thinking about what I would write for my first blog post for a couple of weeks, and in all honesty, I did not know where to begin. I haven't even finished setting things up on this blog yet (please excuse the appearance), and I've scrapped all of my intro thoughts because I really wanted to share something important today for WFMW.
I want to tell you about a family that is experiencing something that I can only imagine. The two children, four year old Benson and two year old Claire, both have a rare genetic disease in which their liver produces too much oxalate -- called primary hyperoxaluria. Little Claire has been on dialysis since she was three months old and has to have treatment six days a week for three hours a day. She is on a waiting list to receive a combined kidney/liver transplant. Although Claire's condition has progressed much faster than Benson's, it is expected that he will eventually need similar transplants.
To make matters worse, as doctors were inserting a catheter in Claire last month, something went wrong and the surgeons needed to perform open heart surgery. Then, at the end of the month, Claire took a spill and broke both of her legs. (Her bones are fragile.)
Through it all Claire and this family persevere. Friends and family have set up an online auction to benefit this family, which is running now through November 16th.
It is expected that the costs of the transplants will be substantial. There are some wonderful items in this auction, and you can help a great cause and get a start on that Christmas list as well. That works for me.
P.S. If you would just like to donate to this family and to read more about them, please visit here. Also, please pray for Natalie, Jared, Benson, and Claire.
P.S.S. I've been a reader of Works for Me Wednesdays for years, first at Rocks in My Dryer and now hosted at Kristen's We Are THAT Family blog. It is my privilege to join you. Thank you so much.
