Child Receives Dual Organ Transplants!
Aaron is doing well since his dual heart and kidney transplant, which took place in August of 2010. He was finally able to return to his Brentwood home on November, 10th, 2010, to reconnect with loving family and friends.
The family is grateful to the donor family, the doctors, nurses, hospital staff and those of you who have helped in so many ways. Without you ALL, the Tanner family would have been lost. Aaron’s medical bills continue to poor in, so we come to you, once again to ask for your help.
Please continue to pray for the Tanner family, for their financial situation and for Aaron’s total recooperation.
Learn More About Aaron
You may already be familiar with this unbelievable story about a family here in Brentwood, CA.
The Brentwood Press ran a very nice article Wednesday, August 26th 2009, with updates about Aaron called, “Events supporting Aaron piling up” by Ruth Roberts.
110 Degrees Magazine did a beautiful spread on the family, in their March ’09 issue (page 48), called “Aaron Tanner’s War,” and most ABC News ran a story on August 12th, 2009 titled, Boy’s Broken Heart Tests Doctors and Family by Lauren Cox. If you haven’t heard about their story, open your heart, grab a tissue and read on.
The Tanner family’s life has been anything but normal for the past 4-years. No family should ever have to endure this much in an entire lifetime. Not long after the meeting and after God profoundly laid this on my heart, I spoke with Elizabeth (Mom) and got to experience her incredible spirit and unwavering faith, I can’t help but to call her a hero.
Before Elizabeth and Mark’s 4th son Aaron was born he was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition — only the right side of his heart was working, “hypoplastic left heart” they called it. After he was born he had to remain at UCSF for 6 weeks. Elizabeth would bring Aaron’s cheerful 2 year old brother Ethan with her to visit, who delighted in kissing his new little brother.
A week after they finally got to bring Aaron home, 2 year old Ethan came down with what seemed to be the flu but he was inconsolable. With baby Aaron in her arms they took Ethan to the hospital. When he didn’t respond to an oxygen mask they decided to intubate him.
As the tube entered his chest they discovered his chest was saturated with fluid that came rushing out, drowning any chance the medical team had of getting him the oxygen he needed. Their beautiful little Ethan died. “Pertrophic Cardiomyopathy” they called it, that doesn’t, unfortunately give much warning, death is often one of the first symptoms.
Elizabeth buried a part of her soul with Ethan but remaining completely dead was not an option for her. She had to stay positive for her husband, for their 2 older sons and of course for their precious Aaron.
Aaron, now age 4, and 3 open heart surgeries later, just found out on Monday that he now faces his biggest challenge yet. Due to renal failure that is putting too much pressure on his heart, he must have a heart and kidney transplant simultaneously in order to survive.
Rare Transplant Surgery
A double organ transplant in a 4 year old is one of the rarest surgeries there is. They are back at UCSF as of July 31st, for two to three weeks so he can undergo tests to determine just how long he has to find donors. They’ve been informed that UCLA is the only hospital that performs the dual transplants that he needs.
They will have to travel to UCLA for what they have been told could be anywhere from 3 to 6 months So Elizabeth will have to relocate there with Aaron for as long as necessary.
They REALLY need our prayers, big miracles & any monetary donations if you are in a place to give. Due to the huge financial strain this would put on any family, let alone one that has already lost one child. On top of all the medical issues they are dealing with there home may be going into foreclosure. They need HUGE miracles.
Aaron takes some 10-12 different medications a day to regulate his heart beat, blood pressure and for his kidney failure. They have a $350,000 cap on their insurance which they are dangerously close to as it is (before this 2 week “investigative” stay in the hospital or his double organ transplant).
A non profit foundation has been set up in Aarons name & non-profit number for donations. Please do not feel obligated to give, if you can be a prayer warrior — they need you, if you can forward this story to everyone you know — they need you. It doesn’t matter if you give a $1 or $10,000, it all adds up to make a big difference.
When pure intentions meet an honest need and many are called together to rise and meet that need, miracles do happen. I can’t seem to lift this heaviness from my heart, I keep picturing myself in their shoes and I can’t fight back the tears. No parent should ever have to endure such sorrow, loss and worry.
If you are in a place to make a donation here are a couple of options:
Make a check payable to The Aaron Tanner Heart Foundation and mail it to:
Bank Of Agriculture
c/o Aaron Tanner Heart Foundation
2251 Balfour Rd., Brentwood, CA 94513
Or Donate through their website at www.saveabrokenheart.com
