Hunter was born 15 weeks early. He suffered a brain injury called PVL or Peri-Ventricular Leukomalacia. PVL is caused by a lack of oxygen or blood flow to the periventricular area of the brain, which results in the death or loss of brain tissue. The periventricular area contains nerve fibers that carry messages from the brain to the body's muscles. The result of PVL is cerebral palsy.

In the medical field the diagnosis of cerebral palsy is bleak. When Hunter was younger we had hospitals tell us there was no hope for Hunter and they would not provide treatment. This all changed when Hunter turned 10 years old and we begin to do Umbilical Cord Stem Cells. We raised enough money to try out the smallest transplant possible to see if stem cells would make a difference in Hunter’s quality of life. Within days of the first treatment, Hunter no longer let his head thrash back and forth. We raised more money and three months later Hunter received another transplant. This time he began to take steps in a walker that he could not stand in six months earlier. One year after the first transplant and many fundraisers later, we took Hunter back for two treatments. He could now interact with family and friends. We pushed the fundraising efforts and took Hunter to China where he had five transplants. Hunter’s improvements were great in number. Just to name a few, he could ride his bike dally with less tone, he started to reach with his hands, and he could eat food without making a loud throaty noise. Last year we kicked the fundraising efforts even harder and took Hunter back to China for more stem cells. We always expected the physical improvements but we didn’t expect the cognitive improvements. Hunter laughs appropriately at jokes, began to watch football on TV (he is legally blind), his ability to sit by himself for brief moments, began to independently pedal his bike a short distance and much, much more.

In September 2012, I broke my elbow. After surgery and six weeks of healing, I have little function in my arm. I am not able to care for Hunter or fundraise. Four months have passed and I am still unable to lift Hunter. As he continues to improve through the help of therapist I am unable to raise the money needed to continue his hope.

This is where our family needs your help. For the past four years Hunter and I have gone to craft fairs and sold notecards that Hunter painted for $10. We worked most weekends in the Fall and Spring. We tried to take care of ourselves. This year I am not able to raise the money needed for him to do stem cells.

I am asking for any help that you can give to take Hunter to a facility for umbilical cord stem cell transplants. Insurance will not cover this procedure. Hunter’s doctors, therapist, teachers, family and friends have seen improvements in Hunter and his quality of life. They are very encouraging. As I drive by playgrounds and see children climbing, running, laughing and playing I am reminded of everything my son cannot do. Stem cells may not help him be like a typical child. However, stem cells will give him a better quality of life where he can enjoy and be as independent as he possibly can be.

As a side note, we hope to inspire the families like us to never give up. That great improvements can happen after the age of five in a cerebral palsy child. Just because cerebral palsy has been around since the beginning of time does not mean that there is no hope of a better life. I will never give up on my child and promise that every donation whether it is great or small will be honored and go directly to Hunter’s treatments.

May God bless you and those you love.