Giving Kids a Second Chance

Recipients

2005 - 10 Year Anniversary Recipient Update

Looking back at our 10 year history, the Mulliganeers is very proud of the many families that we have been able to help.  We are happy to share updates of some of our past recipients:  2005 - 10 Year Anniversary Update

Event Recipients



Aidan Doyle

Tricia Doyle (nee Bergman) and Mike Doyle both grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago. They met in college at Eastern Illinois University and married in 2000. Tricia and Mike have four children, Kayley age 8, Aidan age 5, Marty age 4, and Tessa age 8 months, and they live in Chicago on the far south side. Besides being wonderful parents, Tricia and Mike are both dedicated teachers in the Chicago Public Schools System.

Their second child, Aidan, was diagnosed with Autism when he was 3 years old. Tricia and Mike, as any good parents would, began their constant research of the disability to find anyway possible they could help their son’s development. They took him to the Pfeiffer Treatment Center in Warrenville. Aidan takes vitamins and supplements to support deficiencies that Pfeiffer found through testing. They also put him on a gluten-free, casein- free diet. That lead them to specialist they found in Ohio, Dr. Demio, who found that Aidan had high levels of heavy metals in his blood. In addition to his diet and vitamin regimen, Aidan has also had chelation therapy, a method of extracting metals from his body.

Tricia and Mike have helped raise money for Autism Speaks, a foundation that does research on Autism. They have attended many seminars on Autism in desperate hope of finding answers to their questions and ultimately a cure for their son.

Aidan is in a special needs program through the Chicago Public Schools. He gets a small amount of speech and occupational therapy (OT) through school. Tricia and Mike choose to take him for private OT and speech twice a week and have therapists coming to the house twice a week. They pay for all his medical tests, supplements, therapy, and doctor visits out of their pocket. Insurance does not cover any of the costs. Tricia and Mike make many sacrifices for their family to ensure that Aidan is given the most help they can with his disability.

Despite all their efforts, Aidan has regressed since the beginning of summer. He was no longer talking; it has been a daily struggle for him to communicate with his family. He began having new behavioral problems at school.

Tricia and Mike know he needs more. He needs a full-time, highly structured, intensive therapy based program to regain the speech and other skills that he has lost. There are no programs in the Chicago Public Schools System that will meet his needs. Tricia and Mike started looking into private schools. The tuition in a private autism school is very expensive. In November of 2007, they started Aidan at the Chicago Autism Academy in Palos Park, IL. He attends part-time five days a week. The cost of part-time special education is $1,000 per month. Within a week of starting the school he began to say words again. Though his progress has been slow since starting at the school, he IS making progress. Tricia and Mike will do whatever it takes to give Aidan what he needs, but unfortunately his needs are very costly. Tricia and Mike worry every day about the future of their son. The cost of treatment for Aidan is far more than their Chicago Public School salaries will allow. They’re just reaching out to try to get THE best education for their son. This is truly a family that needs some help!



Sean Duggan

Life was good for the Duggan family. John and Jill Dugan lived in Frankfort and were blessed with three beautiful and healthy children - Sean, age 9, Abbey, age 3 and Aidan who is 2.

Things were about to change dramatically for this family. In August 2007, Sean kept going from doctor to doctor complaining of severe back pain. Sean is an avid athlete and absolutely LOVES sports of every kind, so all the doctors wrote it off as pulled muscles or swollen discs and proceeded to shoot him with steroids and morphine. Sean woke up and could not move his right leg. They contacted the latest pediatric back specialist he had been seeing and she told them to rush him downtown to Children’s Memorial immediately.

That day an MRI of the entire spine showed a large tumor growing inside of his spinal cavity and pinning the spinal cord up against the vertebrae cutting off power to his right leg. A team of neurosurgeons immediately put a plan together to operate the next morning and remove the tumor. As Sean healed from the surgery, they waited for the biopsy results on the tumor. They were given the dreadful news - not only was Sean’s tumor cancerous, but the tumor was a Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor, which are the most aggressive and fatal tumors found in children.

As they met with the oncology panel more, the news became more encouraging. They felt that since the tumor was in a very unlikely spot, was removed entirely, and since tests have come back indicating that there is no cancer remaining in the body that it is very likely the cancer will not re-occur. However, the bad news was that he undertakes 30 weeks of aggressive forms of chemotherapy treatments. He has just finished a regiment of 5 weeks of radiation therapy while also getting chemo. The family is all very positive about his prognosis and thank God every day that the tumor was in a very rare place giving him an excellent chance at getting rid of it forever

In the fall of 2006, John made a decision that he thought would help build a secure financial future for his family. He decided to enter into a new career being an independent, commission only based Farmers insurance agent. He knew that even though he would be making significantly less money for the first two years that it would be better for the family in the long run. They had no idea that during the first year of his new career that their lives would be turned upside down and changed forever. Jill works part-time as a waitress and only receives tips to help support the family.

Other than the emotional impact this has had there has also been a major financial burden. John was not able to work at all in November and December due to the intensity and frequency of Sean’s chemo and radiation treatments. They spent most days and a lot of nights in the hospital and balanced that with taking care of their two year old son and three year old daughter. So, at this point they have lost two full months of income from both John’s Farmers career and Jill’s part-time job. Any money they had in savings was exhausted before they made it through the six weeks of misdiagnoses by the various doctors that saw Sean even before Children’s found the tumor.

This is a young couple (celebrating their 10th anniversary this month), but also a loving and giving family that is well respected in the Community. John is a 3rd degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus and operates out of the St. Anthony’s Parish where he volunteers to help the Church and those in need. It’s now their turn…..

This sure does sound like a family that just needs to help to get them through these rough times!



Nickerson Family

Just HOW much should one family need to endure? This is an absolutely amazing family held together by a very remarkable young mother. Their story will absolutely touch your heart. Paige is a 25 year old single mother of three beautiful little girls, Lanya (age 6), Jada (5) and Makayla, (age 4). They recently moved from Indiana into a small subsidized apartment to be closer to their hospital on Chicago’s south side. A few years ago this family looked very different. Paige and her little girls were all at home, happy and healthy. Today a very different picture has emerged.

Paige was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) in September, 2005. She was treated at Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes Hospital, underwent chemotherapy and then the subsequent amputation of her leg. Life had permanently changed for this young single mother of three.

Trying to care for her family after the amputation and just 14 short months later, her oldest daughter, Lanya started experiencing headaches, unexplained fevers and fatigue. She was brought to the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital and diagnosed with Leukemia. Lanya underwent two years of treatment, including an intensive chemotherapy regimen. Today her hair has started to grow back she has entered school and is enjoying her time outside of the hospital as a 1st grader. She still has frequent clinic visits.

In August of 2007, just as Lanya’s treatment began to slow, her younger sister Makayla started experiencing excruciating headaches. Once again, Paige brought her daughter to the University of Chicago. It was discovered that Makayla had a brain tumor. Her tumor was quickly growing and soon rendered her unconscious. She was highly sedated after emergency surgery. The family anxiously waited to see what her functioning would be if and when she woke up. Makayla has been hospitalized continuously since her initial admission in August. After surgery, the family sought rehabilitation at LaRabida. Here Makayla started to learn how to talk again. Using single words and short sentences she could tell her family what show she wanted to watch on television, what she wanted to eat and most importantly that she loved them. As a mother, Paige was thrilled. It was only weeks earlier that she had hoped to see her daughter’s eyes open again. Progress was met with a relapse in November, 2007. The tumor was once again growing and the family was devastated. Makayla was transferred back to U of Chicago for surgery. She has once again begun chemotherapy and radiation. All of Makayla’s hard work was erased due to the tumor’s re-growth. Once again, Paige hopes to hear her daughter’s words again. They anxiously wait to see if the chemotherapy is working.

Visiting the hospital has been hard for Lanya and her sister Jada. They long to play with Makayla as they once did. The hospital also brings back scary memories for Lanya; days and nights of pokes, prodding and invasive procedures. Paige diligently tries to balance not only her own treatment but the treatment of her two daughters. Paige reminisces about her daughters; how they enjoyed playing with their puzzles and coloring books. She remembers Makayla’s smile and the happiness that would always surround not only her but the entire family.

Lightening did not just strike once for this family, but three times. Paige carries on the best way she knows how. To say this family is in crisis is a gross understatement.



Manuel Palacios

Manuel Palacios was born July 8, 2005, and was diagnosed at birth with Krabbe’s Disease. When Manuel was born, he had a sister Stephanie (6/26/04) in the hospital at the same time with Krabbe’s Disease that had been diagnosed at 5 months of age but she died at 16 months.

Krabbe’s Disease is a rare inherited degenerative disorder of the central and peripheral nervous system. There is no cure for the disease and is generally fatal before the age of 2. Results of a small clinical trail at Children’s Memorial Hospital have found that children that receive stem cell transplant from unrelated donors prior to the onset of symptoms develop with little neurological impairment and increased life expectancy.

Manuel has had two stem cell transplants, July 28, 2005 and December 23, 2005. Both transplants were followed by chemotherapy. He is currently 2 ½ years old, developmentally delayed, walking with the assistance of a walker and cannot sit up straight on his own. He has continued doctor visits and therapists that come to the home for Physical Therapy and Occupation Therapy. His prognosis is unknown. He is currently enrolled in an early intervention program to increase his mental and motor development, and receives in-home respite care from El Valor.

The family has medical expenses and other unpaid past due bills. Mom (Lucia) cannot work because she needs to care for Manuel, and Dad (Mario) is in poor health and at times is unable to walk and cannot work. The family has trouble purchasing the basic necessities including food and clothes and Manuel needs a new crib.



Haley Pavur

Life was good for the Pavur family and they counted their blessings daily. Joe and Jean Pavur, along with their son Benjamin (age 16) and daughter Haley (age 9) were enjoying life and their family in their home in Oak Forest.

Joe is an attorney and has a small private law practice. Joe & Jean made a conscious decision to keep their law practice small rather than entering a corporate law office because they wanted the flexibility and the time to be able to enjoy and raise their children together. Because Joe is self-employed and their children were now in school, Jean worked part time to help supplement their modest income, but primarily to provide health insurance for their family. Their children were flourishing and the family was blessed with good health, but on June 9th, 2007, everything changed.

Joe and the two children were sitting in the middle of an intersection waiting to turn left and were struck with full force by a young, un-insured, extremely drunk driver. (He was 3 times over the legal alcohol limit and is currently incarcerated.) All in the Pavur car were severely injured, but little Haley suffered the most with a very traumatic Brain Injury. (Both Joe and his son were also hospitalized for a while with fairly major injuries, but are now both doing well with no long term effects.)

Haley was in Loyola’s Pediatric Critical Care unit for 19 days and then transferred to Marianjoy rehab until her discharge home on September 14th. Immediately following her release she started her very extensive rehabilitation at the Rehab institute located in Willowbrook. Because of her extensive injuries, she is in a wheelchair, has weakness on her left side, Ataxia on her right side, has abnormal tone, and cognitive deficits. She now goes to numerous different therapy sessions from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm, FIVE days a week!

What to do? Joe & Jean have some really tough decisions to make, and they decide that Joe should close his small law office so that he can care for Haley full time. He accompanies Haley daily to her many therapies. To anyone that has ever basically lived at a hospital, we all know how physically and mentally draining these long days can be, but Joe never complains!

Now that their primary income is gone, it is imperative that Jean continues to work so that they can keep their health insurance in place and bring at least some income to the family. They have always lived modestly and within their means, but their income has dropped so drastically, they are really struggling just to meet basic life necessities. After interviewing them and looking at their financial situation, we don’t know how they are surviving. We’re somehow managing. We are blessed...What a remarkable family!

This family, the Pavur’s, like SO many of our other families just need some help to get them through a difficult time.



Justin Santana

Justin Santana was a healthy 15 year old who loved and played football and wrestling. He lived with his Mom Ivon, and his Dad, Frank along with his brothers, Oscar (21), (who just recently moved back in to help his brother…. Kenny (13), and Frankie who is 11. They live in the far northwestern suburbs in Island Lake. He was an active ordinary regular boy, until July 7th of 2007.

Just had started football practice for the season and was all excited to be playing his second year of high school football. He started having trouble breathing and he and his mom just assumed that he was out of shape and that it would get better. One evening he was literally gasping for air from just tying his shoes and asked to go to the Emergency Room.

They were at Good Shepherd Hospital doing tests when the Doctors told his Mom and said that they were going to immediately transfer him to Lutheran General Hospital. They stated that Justin was filled with numerous blood clots in his lungs, and that he had suffered a major pulmonary embolism. He was able to go by ambulance and was immediately admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care unit. He spent 9 days in PICU and went through a multitude of tests. The Doctors did not know what to do with him because they have never had a 15 year old that was filled with blood clots. They consulted numerous Doctors at other Hospitals with no help.

He was quickly developing clots in his legs also and they surgically inserted a filter to break them up before they could move up to his lungs or heart. This was only a temporary fix and will need to be removed soon. This has left Justin weak, angry, unable to play any type of sport, or even just rough house with his 3 brothers. This can be overwhelming for a normally healthy and active young man. He can develop more clots at any time, and the combination of a potential injury and his numerous blood thinners, he could potentially get major internal bleeding with even the smallest bump or poke.

This family had a modest income between the Mom & Dad and they did not have health insurance. They are very hard working people who were always putting in extra hours, but now that they have several hundred thousands of dollars in doctor’s bill, it’s just become overwhelming. They are struggling just to keep up with the prescription bills from all of the changes of Justin’s medicines.

Most recently, (within the past 30 days) the parents have split up once again (after several separations) and they are now filing for divorce. Ivon is now a single mom with only ONE modest income and expected to raise her sons by herself. This would be difficult under normal circumstances, but she now works even less in her modest paying job as a School bus driver, because she needs to spend so much time taking Justin to his numerous hospital tests and visits, besides trying to raise the other 2 children. She barely has enough money at this point to put food on the table, much less keep up with her normal financial commitments (mortgage, gas, etc) She is just totally overwhelmed - and financially, physically, and emotional drained. She tries so hard to keep a positive attitude with her children. It’s not been easy!



Amanda Vicari

Miracles for Amanda, that is what we pray for. Amanda Vicari is a beautiful, full of life, 8 year old little girl. She is the youngest of three children; Andrew (16), and Alyssa (12). Their mother, Jennifer, is a single mother just trying to get from one day to the next.

Amanda was diagnosed with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) at the age of 5 weeks old. She was airlifted to the University of Chicago Hospital and stayed for three weeks. After many blood transfusions, she seemed to recover. At five months old she relapsed and was sent to Children’s Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Chicago. After several scary days of congestive heart failure, a drug induced coma, and needing to be resuscitated, Amanda’s kidneys were in end stage renal failure. At 13 months old, Amanda was started on PD dialysis (dialysis that takes place every night for 8 hours while she slept) and had to be fed through an NG tube. She was dependant upon the NG tube until October of 2002 when they placed a G tube in her stomach.

In 2003, Amanda had 3 lengthy admissions to CMH. In September of that year, she suffered from hypertension and cardiac decompensation and in November, became infected with peritonitis caused by a Methicillin-resistant Staph Aureus that caused the PD catheter to have to be removed and start her on chronic hemodialysis 4 times per week.

In 2004, Amanda was activated on the kidney transplant list and received a donor kidney on 04/15/2005. She did well and progressed to eating on her own and even taking her pills by mouth. Amanda thrived during the subsequent 11 months, she gained weight and grew. However in February, 2006 she had to have her parathyroid removed, but it was uneventful and she recovered well.

In March of 2006, Amanda was admitted for a recurrence of Atypical HUS and despite vigorous treatment, the kidney was lost and had to be removed. Four times a week dialysis resumed until the placement of a new PD catheter in May. Several times over the next year, the PD catheter failed and had to be reinserted. In March of 2007, the decision was made to remove the PD catheter and return to hemodialysis 4 times per week. Several specimens have been taken from Amanda and her family and sent to France. They have discovered that she has a mutation in the Factor H gene. This will now require her to receive a combined liver/kidney transplant for success.

Amanda is currently receiving hemodialysis in Chicago four times per week. She is presently on the transplant list and is awaiting that special call. Because of this, her whole family is in crisis. Amanda has been in and out of CMH during the past year for various infections, surgeries and complications. The family had to move out of their home two years ago, and Jennifer can not work a normal job as she must be in Chicago 4 times per week during the day. She tries to make due by being a waitress, but this hardly tips the iceberg. Amanda can not attend school because she can not be at risk of getting even a simple cold. This could affect her status on the transplant list and she is now receiving schooling at home. After several catheter failures, Amanda is running out of sites for placement of the life saving dialysis lines, and the clock is ticking. The family is currently looking for a new home as the rental home they are living in has been found to be full of black mold. This is just a family that needs some help!



Mason Jay Walker

Mason Jay Walker was born on January 3, 2004 with his twin Grace Kelly, 3 months premature each of them weighing in at only 2 pounds. This started the battle for their lives. Prior to the birth of their twins, life was good for Joe & Kelly Walker. They lived in their modest Villa Park home and were enjoying the family life with their daughter Haley, who is 7.

Their family and friends prayed every day for a miracle. Within a short time their prayers were answered for little Grace and she started doing much better. Unfortunately, little Mason took a turn for the worse. He contracted the E-coli virus. It attacked his foot, ankle, knee and hip, and the damage to his ligaments were so severe they had to have his foot amputated.

This young couple had to endure what it is like to go home without their precious little twin babies, and not being sure one of them would ever make it home. Their hearts were aching but they continued their prayers and constant visits to the hospital. Finally, a few months later Grace came home, shortly followed by Mason.

When Mason came home he had 24 hour monitoring equipment, specialized home nursing care, and constant therapies. Mason has also had to endure 5 eye surgeries, as the family was also told he would be blind. Prior to the birth of the twins, Dad had a good job with UPS and was able to provide his family with, what he thought, was excellent health insurance. Having a $1 million dollar maximum health benefit never would seem to be a potential problem for a young family. Within a short time, the Walker’s hit their maximum, and they no longer have ANY health insurance. Mason NEEDS this special home care, and as you can only imagine, it is extremely expensive!

Today Mason is a bright and beautiful 4 year old little boy whose dream is to walk without a walker. Most recently February 26, 2008 (a week before this St. Pat’s Party), he had a surgery that may make walking possible. The doctors took bone from his pelvis to build a kind of shelf where his hip should be, this hopefully will help his thigh bone to have something to bump up against so he can keep his prosthetic leg straight, and eventually be able to walk on his own. To date he is doing well, he must stay in a very restricted cast for 6-8 weeks. Obviously there will be a lot more therapies to follow, NONE of which is covered by insurance. (They are currently in the never-ending process of applying for Public Assistance and Social Security benefits.

Joe and Kelly Walker both work, Joe is still at UPS, and Kelly works for Nordstrom, to help pay for Mason’s many needs. But because of his most recent surgery, they are currently off (earning no income) and have no idea how the bills will be paid. With no insurance they are drowning in medical bills. A big decision was to let their nurse go, who had worked with Mason since he came home, but they had no choice, as they no longer could afford to pay her.

They are very optimistic, but there is no telling how Mason's most recent surgery will turn out, and he will need many sizes of prosthetic legs (annually) because he is so young and will continue to grow rapidly. But one thing they DO know is Mason can do anything! He has proven the Doctors wrong every step of the way - and they know he will continue to amaze them with his strength and his courage!