This campaign is closed

iDo5: Benefiting The Pratt Pack

Give $5 to a deserving family dealing with congenital birth defects, and share their story with 5 other people. Together we can make an impact in their lives.

Caret Left
Caret Right
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

iDo5: Benefiting The Pratt Pack

iDo5: Benefiting The Pratt Pack

iDo5: Benefiting The Pratt Pack

iDo5: Benefiting The Pratt Pack

iDo5: Benefiting The Pratt Pack

Give $5 to a deserving family dealing with congenital birth defects, and share their story with 5 other people. Together we can make an impact in their lives.

Give $5 to a deserving family dealing with congenital birth defects, and share their story with 5 other people. Together we can make an impact in their lives.

Give $5 to a deserving family dealing with congenital birth defects, and share their story with 5 other people. Together we can make an impact in their lives.

Give $5 to a deserving family dealing with congenital birth defects, and share their story with 5 other people. Together we can make an impact in their lives.

Matthew Murphy
Matthew Murphy
Matthew Murphy
Matthew Murphy
3 Campaigns |
Houston, United States
$20 USD 4 backers
0% of $6,000 Fixed Goal Fixed Goal
Highlights
Mountain Filled 3 Projects Mountain Filled 3 Projects

Introduction

Bluebonnets

 


 
Jason and Amy Pratt have been blessed with five beautiful children: Spencer (8), MacKenzie (6), Quinten (5), Bryton (3), & Kyden (20 mos).   They have thousands of pictures filled with laughter and smiles documenting their lives.  It is hard to believe that 4 of the 5 children deal with some type of congenital anomaly.
 
Spencer was diagnosed at 7 days old as having an H-type trachea-esohagel fistula. A fistula, from the Latin meaning ‘a pipe,’ is an abnormal connection running either between two tubes or between a tube and a surface. In tracheo-esophageal fistula it runs between the trachea and the esophagus. This connection may or may not have a central cavity; if it does, then food within the esophagus may pass into the trachea (and on to the lungs) or alternatively, air in the trachea may cross into the esophagus. and had his first surgery to repair the defect he spent 4.5 months in the NICU.  He was also diagnosed with a a fundoplication.  In a fundoplication the gastric fundus (upper part) of the stomach is wrapped, or plicated, around the lower end of the esophagus and stitched in place, reinforcing the closing function of the lower esophageal sphincter. The esophageal hiatus is also narrowed down by sutures to prevent or treat concurrent hiatal hernia, in which the fundus slides up through the enlarged esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm.  As of today Spencer has had 11 major surgeries and countless procedures and still suffers with chronic acute asthma, scoliosis, cerebral palsy, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, pervasive developmental disorder , sensory processing disorder, strabismis, and VPI.
 
MacKenzie was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD) — sometimes referred to as a hole in the heart — is a type of congenital heart defect in which there is an abnormal opening in the dividing wall between the upper filling chambers of the heart (the atria).  She was also born with a ventricular septal defect . VSD is a defect in the wall dividing the left and right ventricles of the heart.  This gave Mackenzie a three level murmur, but thankfully as of last December, the hole has closed up without surgical intervention.
 
Quinten was born with Wolfe Parkinson White Syndrome which is a heart condition in which there is an abnormal extra electrical pathway of the heart. The condition can lead to episodes of rapid heart rate.  The condition was surgically repaired in July of 2012 as well as a hernia that was repaired in August.  Quinten also has chronic acute asthma and is suspected to have Autism.  They are currently looking for a doctor that can help him.
 
Bryton was born with another type of trachea-esohagel fistula  similar to Spencer calledType C TE Fistula and an Esophageal Atresia.  An EA occurs in approximately 1 in 4425 live births and represents a failure of the esophagus to develop as a continuous passage; instead, it ends as a blind pouch.  Bryton had the first of six surgeries at less than 24 hrs old  and he spent his first 3 weeks of his life in the NICU before he was released to come home.  Since has fought human respiratory syncytial virus many times and a of pnemonia that lasted a year.  Bryton also has reflux, asthma, tethered cord,  Spina bifita oculta, and other neurological defects.
 
Kyden so far is healthy with the exception to an allergy to red food dye.
 
To prevent their kids from getting sick and to be able to travel for medical care wherever that may lead, Jason and Amy homeschool their children to prevent them having getting behind in their education.  The life, vacations and travel are all scheduled around some medical procedure or situation.
 
Even with all of the adversities that have affected their life, Amy still spends countless hours trying to help other families by hosting events where families that are going through the same things can get together and help each other out.  
 
Matthew also know as "Shawn's Ironman" and founder of Shawn's Anomaly (story below) has dedicated his attempt to complete the Ironman 70.3 New Orleans to help raise money for the Pratt Families medical expenses and giving them a much needed break from their every day stresses and financial burden. We hope you will join us in supporting this deserving family.
 
 


About Shawn's Ironman

Shawn's Ironman LogoIn 2009, Shawn, was born with a 1 in 35 million congenital anomaly (birth malformation) that demanded 3 life threatening surgeries in his first year of life.  Everyone who followed his journey saw Shawn overcome the impossible through those surgeries, so in honor of his recovery, Shawn's father, Matthew, decided that he would go from an overweight couch potato to an Ironman triathlete.  On May 19th, 2012, Matthew fulfilled that dream and became "Shawn's Ironman".


Amazed by how much exposure that the Murphy Shawn & Mom Surgeryfamily's story received from the journey at the Ironman Texas and being a finalist of the Ironman #Konainspired contest, Matthew decided continue traning and competiting in endurance events to benefit other families dealing with congenital anomalies and will attempt a much larger challenge in 2013.  He is attempting to complete every Ironman event in the US plus 1 half-Ironman distance event (Ironman 70.3 New Orleans) to help raise more awareness for the mission on a national and possibly a world level that will benefit thousands of children.  Each event is dedicated to telling the story of 1 family that is affected by congenital anomalies and raise money to give to that family.  

 

Matthew & Shawn Ironman

About Shawn's Anomaly

Shawn's Anomaly Logo

Congenital anomalies affect 1 in 30 children and the leading cause of infant deaths according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  Unlike several non-profit organizations that help bring awareness to conditions such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Autism, Diabetes, and Pediatric Cancer; Shawn’s Anomaly is the only non-profit dedicated to the mission of providing education, hope, and help to families affected by congenital anomalies.  Shawn’s Anomaly accomplishes this mission by focusing on the following goals:

  • Mission

    Shawn’s Anomaly was created to provide education, hope, and help to families affected by congenital anomalies.

  • Goals

    • Fund congenital anomaly research projects.
    • Aid families In gathering all information regarding research and treatment of their child's congenital anomalies.
    • Provide licensed counseling options for families affected by congenital anomalies.
    • Provide a centralized location where families can find information and connect with other families going through similar experiences.
    • Provide supplemental assistance to families while children are undergoing surgical procedures .

The Journey 

Completing the Ironman Texas was a huge success and helped bring much needed awarness to Shawn's Anomaly in the Houston, TX area.  A handful of  families are now benefitting from the mission, but Matthew realized that he could do more.  After careful consideration, Matthew decided to step up his challenge to prove that "Anything is Possible" by continuing to compete in Ironman events and dedicating each one of them to help raise money for other deserving families.  

Stories are told for each family through blog postings and videos at www.shawnsanomaly.org and www.shawnsironman.com

The Need

The Pratt Family has a large need for travel expenses to and from the doctors appointments and treatments from their child.  The have to travel up to 400+ miles from their home to receive treatments in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, or Austin.  They also need assistance in purchasing medical equipment like wheelchairs, medication, etc.  

The need is large, but it can be accomplished with your generous contributions.  Please choose the level to your right based on what your heart tells you to contribute to this journey.  We have faith that we will get enough support to this family that we are are going to make this a fixed fund campaign meaning that if it is not 100% funded by the deadline, everyone will get their money back.  All donations are tax deductible.

Shawn & Matthew Finishing Houston Triathlon

We are not asking for a huge donation.  We are just asking for you to give $5 ($100 if you would like to sponsor one of the miles of the event), and share with 5 other people to do the same.  If those 5 tell 5 others, then 5 others, then the fundraising goal will be met at a rapid pace.  Remember though it is not met, then the money is returned to you.  So what is stopping you.  

  • Please share this campaign with all of your friends and family.  The more we can get the word out about the faster this campaign can be succesfully funded and more people will become aware of the Shawn's Anomaly mission.
  • Like Our Facebook Page.
  • Follow Our Twitter Feed.

Thank you so much for taking interest in our project.  We hope that it moves and inspires you in many ways.  Without your help, this can families life will be changed forever.

 

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
Need more information
Let us know if you think this campaign contains prohibited content.

Choose your Perk

Pratt Pack 5

$5 USD
Donate $1 for each child in the Pratt Pack. This donation will not break the bank and if you share with all your friends what you did, they may be inspired to give 5 too! All donors at this level will receive a social shout out on twitter and Facebook. Donate as many times as you like!
0 claimed

Sponsor A Mile

$100 USD
Support 1 mile of the 70.3 miles of the race. You will be mailed a certificate in your name or in the honor of someone of your choice showing what mile you sponsored.
Estimated Shipping
May 2013
0 out of 71 of claimed
Tags for this project
Up Caret