SAN JOSE, CA – May 18, 2010 -The Women’s Networking Alliance, a Silicon Valley community of women business owners, announced they are hosting “Everyday Superheroes,” a fundraiser on June 6, 2010 at the Santa Clara Convention Center from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. to help raise money for five-year-old Brentwood resident Aaron Tanner who is suffering from kidney and heart failure. 49ers safety Michael Lewis, who suffers from a heart ailment himself called atrial fibrillation, among others will attend the benefit to help raise awareness and funds for Aaron.

Aaron had his first of three open heart surgeries when he was just over a week old. At a time when most parents are celebrating the arrival of their new baby, Aaron’s parents were faced with the overwhelming tragedy of their older son, four-year-old, Ethan dying only a few weeks later from an undiagnosed heart condition, unrelated to Aaron’s. If that’s not enough of a challenge, The Tanner’s tapped medical insurance as hit the ceiling.

Local president of the Women’s Networking Alliance (WNA) and small business entrepreneur, Debbie Quintana, heard of Aaron’s story and decided to pull together the “Everyday Superheroes” event which will include an auction, dinner and dancing. WNA has set up a website (www.wnacommunity.com) for donations and sponsors to help support the cause in addition to attending the benefit.

Along with 49ers safety Michael Lewis, the event will feature local firefighters dressed in superhero costumes and the San Jose Police Department will attend. The 49ers are also donating a VIP Training Camp Experience for four in Santa Clara. Additional support has generously come in from the Oakland Raiders, San Jose Sharks, the Silvercreek Sportsplex, Best Buy and Comcast is their executive sponsor.  The Santa Clara Convention Center even donated their newly remodeled Mission City Ballroom.

The event will feature comedian, actor, keynote speaker and author, Mark Lundholm as well as a local 16 year girl comedian, Sarah Kay. Additional talent donations have come from local bands, Above the Law and The Magnolia Jazz Trio.

“Even people from out of state have shown their support including owner of Organized Management, Al Dias, actor and entrepreneur, most recently co-starring as Big Lou in “The Good Guys” on FOX. This is absolutely amazing and I’m confident we’ll sell out.” said Quintana. “We still need help so my ask is to spread the word.” When Quintana was asked about her reason for driving support for Aaron, her response was personal, “Like Michael Lewis, I suffer from atrial fibrillation and heart disease runs in my family. Aaron has a long life ahead of him and this is just simply the right thing to do.”

The generosity of the community has been overwhelming to Aaron’s mom Elizabeth, “What Debbie and her organization have done for us brings me to tears. She truly is a super woman. I hope that once Aaron is well that I can give back and raise awareness about donor ship.”

 
Contact: Debbie Quintana
(408) 307-3411

We are gone three days a week for dialysis. I did not anticipate how much time it takes to get back and forth to the city. They have increased Aarons dialysis runs to 4 hours each treatment, and it takes about a half hour or so to set him up on machine. Therefore, we are in treatment and he is doing fantastic being home. I have not seen him happier.

Just a little background info for those who are just finding Aarons story….

We are still waiting for the phone call, he is still listed 1A. I can’t tell you how many people – even nurses will ask me if we have the organs or when the transplant will take place. I have answered that question so many times.

So no, we don’t know when it will be. It will be a 5-hour warning or so because he needs a heart. In order to receive a heart, it has to come from someone — a child close to Aaron’s size, with the same blood type and match that would be on life support. He also has to receive the kidney from same donor, so he does not reject it after the transplant.

We are just waiting and waiting. Because of his age, it could be a long wait or it could happen at any moment. We have waited 6-months so far. Children in his age group tend to wait the longest. That is why we are trying to raise donor awareness, children like Aaron die each day around the world waiting on a list.

He is on an IV medication that he has to have running continuously. The medication gives his heart a little extra squeeze because he has a very very faint light squeeze in his heart, while the rest of us have these vigorous hardworking pumping hearts beating in our chests that is what has happened that is why he is in kidney failure his heart could not pump or work to keep his kidneys functioning.

Now since kidney failure Aaron does not urinate at all (we get that question a lot too) that is why he goes to dialysis to filter his blood of all the toxins. Our little tiny guy is in a battle inside that little body of his night and day every breath is hard and each pumping of his heart is very faint. He is a miracle to us and we will do whatever we can to get to his transplant we have to ask for your prayers.

Remember the movie Horton Hears a Who? I think of it often God will here all of our voices praying and Aaron’s miracle will come (WE ARE HERE, WE ARE HERE) I scream it in my head constantly because our faith will keep him strong. I can’t give up, but I am asking all of you to not give up. I am so extremely thankful to each and everyone of you for your constant prayers. In Gods time.

I am home, Aaron is home now, and we could not be happier! My boys needed to be together it was so difficult and hard on them so keep them in your prayers too. Everyone says children are resilient and so on and they bounce right back but put your children in our situation. They are all just children. They should be having fun and laughing and playing and learning, but its like they are growing up in the middle of a war.

Thank you all for not giving up, we try the best we can each day and like you, I want the best and brightest for my child. I wake up each day and thank our God for every Moment.

Welcome Home Aaron and Elizabeth

Aaron arrived back home safely on Saturday. The little guy requires ’round the clock nursing and regular dialysis treatment due to his failing kidneys. Aaron must travel to San Francisco every other day, for three hours of kidney dialysis.

Elizabeth has posted a brief comment (see the side panel under “Recent Comments”) to the site. As is understandable, Elizabeth is feeling a bit overwhelmed at this time, but she promises to send an update just as soon as she is able to see daylight.

Reporter Laura Anthony, wrote an update on March 17, 2010 for ABC News 7. Read it here…
Toddler still waiting for dual transplants

More updates will be posted as they become available and you can be sure Elizabeth will let us know just as soon as she has news of the transplant surgery. Your continued prayers are greatly appreciated!

Early this afternoon (October 13, 2009) Aaron underwent his second MRI.  He had one shortly before we left UCSF, but those images are not clear enough for the transplant surgeon, Dr. Lax, to map out the transplant. Aaron, also with being a hyperplasic left heart baby, has left atrial isomerism and heterotaxy and he is a single ventricle kid. His insides are all different than most congenital heart children. 

Wonderful Doctors

For 4-years he has been walking around and he was very sick inside his medications and surgeries were helping him. We being here with Dr. Lax are the best thing that has happened to Aaron, he is one of only maybe a few that could do this transplant. He has done them before and he has done them before with success.  Once Aaron has this transplant he will be more or less cured of his major heart problem and should be able to live a normal life.

Aaron will be listed in just a few days and he will be listed with status A1 that is the very top. When the doctor is off and not available to do surgery they are talking about putting Aaron on as status 7 that means he accrues time, but he will not be called if organ becomes available only because Dr.  Lax is the only one of the transplant doctors that can do this. Luckily enough Dr. Lax is pretty much here 24 /7. 

I think he is taking a couple days off next week, so Aaron will be status 7 for a couple  days but that means they have faith that it could happen any moment once listed. All that is happening is very good they are taking such care with everything that is happening. God has put us here for a reason and put us into the hands of a very capable cardiac team. We will have Dr. Lax as his surgeon and Dr. Alejos and Dr. Greg Perens as his cardiologist team.

Hospital Discharge

We will be discharged from the hospital maybe early next week can you believe it. We have been in the hospital since June, he will remain on his milrinome IV medication, and be assigned a home health care nurse that will check on us .

We will be nearby the hospital, their only fear is that he could go into tachycardia, but so far he has been stable the entire time. We are still in the process of trying to find housing we have a couple temporary situations. Nothing long term or permanent yet. 

The doctors feel he would have a much better quality of life right know outside the hospital being here is so hard on him. He is only 4 so I have such a hard time rationalizing it all with him. He is also at his witts end with it all. He was in the ICU almost all of that time so he has had his vitals done every two hours and had bandages changed over and over again and now his dialysis.

God Loves the Little Children

The only way I think I have managed this far is with the love from all back at home and with the Love of God, when I think I cant do it anymore and I just want to take him away from all this I always pray and somehow God has been there each and every time. He shows himself in the love from so many at home and in the love and support from our family.

Aaron is scheduled to have his MRI this early afternoon and I spent most of the morning signing consents as well as listening to the doctors explain his odds and possible outcomes and hearing that regardless he had to do this. There is a small chance that since he is in kidney failure he could have a bad reaction to the dye that is used in this MRI and develop an auto immune disease.

So, being here alone I was very scarred and nervous. Before coffee or anything this morning I was given a letter from father Dismas, telling me to stay strong it was probably sent a week ago but did not arrive till this morning.

Then Aaron and I went to the playroom when we returned there was a card from father Dismas, sent on an entirely different date that arrived also fatefully today letting us know that our family at Holy Rosary is praying for a safe and sound return home. 

That was not just chance — that was OUR GOD answering my prayers. These kind situations have happened on so many occasions throughout this whole ordeal. I was so sadden about being alone today and I was being told that I was not alone. 

Rejoice in all you have not the things because they are just that things, rejoice in having God be with you when you need it most and even when you don’t realize it. I am suffering immensely but Our Lord over and over again will not let me suffer alone he is here with Aaron and I time and time again.

God Bless you all prayer Warriors and thank you for your continued support. We are just beginning to climb this mountain.   We don’t know how long it will take but we can do it.

Tomorrow we may get the determination of the Transplant Team and yes, I mean, “team,” there are over a dozen doctors involved in this orchestration.

I look at my little boy and I admire who he is. He is only four years old, but he is so bright, he is aware of everything going on around him. I have fear for him even though I think he has none of what the future will bestow on him. He plays with his toys and asks us to change the channel to Handy Manny or Caillou, and puts in his requests for macaroni and cheese, or pizza, just like any other 4 year old.

On the inside, he is not. His doctors have called him a good actor. On the outside he is a happy little four year old, and on the inside he must have God’s hands pumping his heart for him because what they see on the echoes and MRI’S and monitors does not reflect the little boy playing on a mat on the floor of the pediatric ICU.

We have met with his transplant surgeon Dr. Lax, whom we are told patients come as far away as India and Japan to have perform these transplants. He has told us Aaron’s odds of survival, and explained to us what he must do to make this work.

If it were just a heart transplant I say that because that is how it has been told to us. It is not a normal surgery and no two could possibly be the same because his heart on the inside is only half a heart and has already been modified three times.

Where the transplant heart is going to need to be connected Aaron does not have the connections or valves. Where his lungs need to be connected he has no connection to his main artery. His IVC is interrupted - that means he does not get a good blood flow. There is not one part of his heart that is helping this come together easy, but I have so much faith; When I close my eyes I see God there with the surgeon. He has been there with us all along. He is the one that will make this whole thing come together.

We are here, so that alone is proof and Lord knows we had obstacles and I am sure there may be more. Don’t get me wrong - I have moments, a lot of them, when I am terrified and I can’t picture the day when they say okay we have the organs, we are ready, and we have to say goodbye to Aaron before surgery.

I can only do this with that blind faith that I have. We have no other option but every moment that we are together is so precious. Please cherish your moments with your children and rejoice in their health. I see moms with their children and I just long for those times when I did not have these worries.

I spend every moment thinking of the day when I don’t have to worry or listen to him breathe at night. I wish we could all be together as a family. Knowing what I know and that my boys and Mark are not with us. Oh, it just rips at my heart. When we are together I can promise it is so cherished.

I am so glad that Mark opened up and has put some of his thoughts to words. It is such a release. I think he is beginning to understand that. I lean on him a lot and he on me. We are so blessed to have each other.

I have seen him through such different eyes these past few years. We have gone through so much and we have a huge mountain ahead. I am positive that he will be by my side and we will grow old together. I just pray that all my children grow old and outlive us. I have spent many a night praying and thinking of the family that Aaron will receive the gift of organs. We have started to pray for them and I ask you to do the same. This fate will happen without any of our praying, but when we pray for Aaron’s miracle as a result we are praying for his life and for God to give him life.

The fate of the donor is happening without our prayers we just need to pray that God is with them when they are told that their Ethan passed away. We had everyone by our side at the hospital, even father Jordan somehow appeared that night at Kaiser Walnut Creek. In our lowest moment our God came to us, he came to us in our family that night and our church.

I pray that they are not alone that they have God to turn to and that He helps them up when they fall to the ground in disbelief - like we did.

I truly am so busy every moment with doctors and Aaron and trying to keep up with every detail of everything that happens with him. How much he is getting I know how much Milrinone and have they lowered it. I know how many inches his belly measured yesterday, or if his lungs always sound like that. Or the last 20 ml of fluid he had. I have to know, but why my son is covered from almost head to toe in massive scars or has so many IVs going in and out of his body that it is an orchestrated dance to get him in and out of that wagon.

I don’t know. I can’t think God chose this life for us. We have truly suffered more than most, but I do feel so blessed and so close to God with each breath that Aaron takes. I am thankful for every moment that he smiles at me or whispers “goodnight, I love you Mommy” without being prompted. I am thankful Aaron is the biggest gift that God has given me. I will cherish every day and moment because we are here and we have just started our climb.

For all of you at home reading this; thank you for keeping us in your prayers. God hears us all.

The goal was to get Aaron to UCLA, we have been told UCLA is the hospital that Aaron needs to be to perform the high risk double organ transplant. Aaron spent the majority of the summer at UCSF, in what the Tanner family calls our “home away from home”.

It is second nature that doctors, nurses and social workers refer to us by our first name and we do the same. UCSF has been good to Aaron and the balance of the family, yes we have had bumps, hick-ups, and snags along the way, although we have always been able to work through these issues keeping our vision in front of us.

Thank you all!

Before I go any further I need to thank everyone for all of your support, thoughts, prayers, and support that you all have given the Tanner family. Our ordeal has been much more difficult than we could have ever imagined and has not started out the way we thought, with the unspoken support of immediate family and taking on much of our responsibilities back home.

Our New Home

Aaron’s new “home away from home” is on the 5^th floor of the UCLA Mattel PICU Wing. Although this is exactly where we need to be, Aaron still is going through a battery of tests. They are going to try to evaluate Aaron’s case with the complete transplant team on Tuesday of next week, permitting all labs, x rays, scans, MRI’s and any other reports are gathered to be presented and recommendations are given.

When and if the transplant team accepts Aaron and takes on his case the insurance company will be handed a packet for their own review and the final answer, for the lack of a better word  I refer to it as the insurance provider gets to play God for a day. Regardless of what these professionals determine with our technology of our century, there is no dollar amount in the world that would be too little or too big, if it means Elizabeth and I could spend another day or longer with Aaron. We know this all to well.

We have had a couple of very intense meetings with doctors this past week; it has been very stressful on both of us. Wednesday night, we met the surgeon that would perform the actual heart transplant if Aaron’s case is accepted. He went through each step explaining what he would have to do to a new heart to make it work for Aaron.

Aaron’s Condition

Not only would Aaron receive a new heart the surgeon actually would have to do some reconstruction on the new heart to make it work for Aaron’s anatomy, since this is a double transplant on a congenital condition lowering the chances for success. I’m intentionally not sharing the odds of success, Aaron’s case is very complex and odds are lower than we would have expected.

Just before we met the Transplant Surgeon, we asked the nurse if we could meet with a doctor to see if written orders could be changed to allow Elizabeth and I to take Aaron to the playroom unassisted since the floor was very busy.

Since the doctors were all very busy, they sent in a new medical student to speak with us. In the middle of his excuse that he was giving us, the surgeon walked in and introduced himself. Needless to say the medical student took a step back and listened in on our conversation with the surgeon, of what Aaron has gone through in his life, and what he was about to go through and the repercussions that follow.

None of this is new to Elizabeth and me. I watched the medical students facial expressions change with every word that the surgeon spoke. When the surgeon left the room the student apologized that he did not even have the authority to write orders or even allow us to accomplish what we wanted.

I think after what the student listened to he realized that the front that he tried to put on for us was pointless and possibly felt sorry that Aaron was unable to go to the playroom that night. The very next morning the student returned back to the room and referred to me as Mr. Tanner, and asked me if there was anything that he could do to help out with his nurse, so she could try and get Aaron to the playroom. I would imagine the night before was a surreal moment for him.

Staying Focused

We have been trying to focus on the positive and what the end result will be. Elizabeth can’t hide her worrying, I have seen her break down more lately than not. I think a lot of it has to do with us all being so far from home and being in a new hospital where we do not know anyone, and watching Aaron adjust to all the new faces.

I have to be Elizabeth’s ROCK and stay strong for her and give her a shoulder to lean on when she needs one, who is my ROCK? Every time Aaron gets medication, sedated, poked, prodded, turned twisted and bent sideways, it makes me realize that Aaron is my ROCK. Aaron has gone through more in his four years of life than most of you reading this — including myself will go through in our entire life.

The Tanner Family

Many people ask me how do you pick your head off of your pillow in the morning and function, my responsibility is I do it, for my children. Not only for what Aaron is going through but for what the rest of my children are dealing with. Nicholas is a freshman in high school this year, and his younger brother Noah started 3^rd grade.

This all took place with mom and dad absent taking care of the youngest member of the family; once again we could not have done this without the support of our immediate family and our wonderful community praying for us.

Monday morning I fly back to the Bay Area and will be leaving Elizabeth and Aaron behind. My fear is that I’m leaving them behind to deal with so much more everyday. More than likely Elizabeth will get a visit from the doctors in my absence, giving her their decision if they will take on Aaron’s case. Upon arrival we were interviewed and questioned a million and half times by every doctor and social worker involved. It is a common thing – what they are doing – but the biggest issue is whether or not we can deal with what a heart and kidney transplant patient entails.

We are currently between a rock and a hard place, we don’t make enough money to afford to pay outright for Aaron’s surgeries although we are told we make too much to get the financial support we need. When and if Aaron receives his transplants it does not stop there.

Aaron will take medication for the rest of his life and have regular doctor’s appointments. The medical expenses will continue, you can imagine the stress it brings when you’re watching your child suffer.

Only one parent can stay in the PICU room with Aaron and the only other sleeping arrangements that the hospital offers is empty waiting rooms, first come first serve. You have to mark your territory early. I often go to bed late and get up early. When I get up early this is my time, to think how do I balance work, Aaron & Elizabeth, Nicholas & Noah, medical bills and anything else that comes to mind.

Our New Surroundings

UCLA is big and beautiful; I have spent time walking in the halls, stairwells, elevators, bathrooms, cafeteria, and benches outside. While I adventure through these areas the one thing that that I observed and learned is that everyone is so busy and has a agenda, I observed doctors walking in a group walking down a hall a couple of them were talking about how to sync their PDA’s to their computers others were talking about patients, the one thing they did not see was me.

I took the elevator down stairs to the cafeteria and sat outside and drank a cup of coffee and ate a bagel, I observed many things –doctors and nurses entering and exiting the hospital on their cell phones, PDA’s or talking with co-workers, maintenance workers, pushing carts — all with a mission or destination in mind.

I noticed there were flowers and the green landscaping. It just dawned on me; I took a moment as the old Clichés goes “I stopped to smell the roses.”

When I was done with my coffee I went upstairs to see if Elizabeth and Aaron had awakened. As I walked down the hall a picture on the wall caught my eye. It was a picture of penguins on an ice berg, and then I just realized something — the hallway had several pictures of penguins on both sides of the walls head to toe.

I just did something twice in the same morning that I have not done in such a long time, I took time out of my day and “I stopped and I smelled the roses.” Realizing that everyone has very busy lives, between work, grocery shopping, basketball, baseball, soccer and many other chores we all need to take time out of our life and “smell the roses.” By not doing this you do not realize what you are missing.

Once again thank you all for your acts of kindness, carpool, events, phone calls, E-mails, support, visits, reminders not to lose our faith, and the power of prayers, (Jackie thank you for keeping me on track). I have to especially thank the kids Aunt Kaylena, Uncle Scott and Grandma Sandy they all have stepped in and helped so much and are keeping home life as normal as possible for Nicholas and Noah.

Scott & Kaylena are expecting their second child, our Nephew and Godson baby Jack is going to be a big brother. This is a very special time in Scott and Kaylena’s life they all have put there lives on hold to help family.

Special thanks and prayers to you all, and God Bless

Mark and Elizabeth

A lot has happened since I last updated.

It has been an emotional rollercoaster to say the least.

Aaron had his hemodialysis catheter placed and after some adjusting of medications it is know working great. He is on a 4 -6 week course of antibiotics for the infection that caused the removal of peritoneal catheter.

He has had little bumps in the road; he had the MRI done Tuesday a test that UCLA requested, on the scan they saw an enlarged lymph node that was there before but that has gotten bigger in mass. So, immediately alarms went off and they requested blood tests and a Ultrasound to rule out Lymphoma (cancer).

The blood test and ultrasound were both negative. We consulted with oncology/hematology yesterday and they have requested a P.E.T. scan (a form of MRI but more in detail) to rule out the chance of it being a lymphoma. That will be done Monday or Tuesday of next week.

All doctors involved are very assuring that they would be surprised if it comes back with a positive result. They just have to rule it out since he is a transplant candidate.

I am very pleased to announce Aaron has a confirmed date for UCLA. UCLA and Dr. Lax and Dr. Alejos would like us there Monday the 28th of September. HOORAY!!!!! The best news we have heard in the longest time.

We are actually going and approved. Can you feel my happiness through the screen?

I am so grateful for all of your prayers and support we had a huge turnout at Straw Hat Pizza in Brentwood last night. Mark and the rest of my family was able to attend and my Mom said she was so overcome by all the support you could feel the love in the room.

Thanks to Sal, Anmarie and KC for putting it all together.

There is a huge garage sale going on today and this weekend that Velya has organized from Coldwell Banker Amaral, please stop by. I am told there are many treasures to be found. All the people behind the scenes of this event have really gone to a lot of work to put it together, some have driven from as far away as Danville, to pick up items that have been donated.

Also, there is a wonderful evening at Hanoum Estate in Brentwood planned. Tickets have to be purchased in advance. Please come out, there are many wonderful auction items that have been donated by the community and a friend of ours Joan has also rounded up two VIP Tickets to New York’s The View, with Barbara Walters and Whoopi Goldberg. There will be a live band. There is a flyer on the site. Please let people know; it is going to be such a wonderful event.

This is just the beginning; we still have a very long road ahead of us. I know we can get through this. Praying for Aaron and you!

The Climb is the brand new hit single from Miley Cyrus available on Hannah Montana: The Movie Soundtrack in stores March 24!

Thought you would like to read the lyrics today:

The Climb lyrics

Songwriters: Alexander, J; Mabe, J;

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there’s a voice inside my head saying
“You’ll never reach it”

Every step I’m taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb

The struggles I’m facing
The chances I’m taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I’m not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I’m gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

‘Cause there’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb, yeah!

There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody’s gonna have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It’s all about, it’s all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

© HOPELESS ROSE MUSIC; VISTAVILLE MUSIC;

These are the words to the song that Aaron Loves and it so fits him.
We will all keep the faith!

We Love You Thank You for your continued support!!!!

They do it on children, but with Aaron, he has the complication of his heart condition, so it may take a few days to know how well it is working.  I am confident it will work; his body is tolerating it so far.

We have found so much strength from all of the emotional support we are receiving; there is not a moment that goes by that we are not thankful for that. We have received such beautiful notes of encouragement and are told we are in the thoughts of many.

We are still anticipating going to UCLA. The infection may take up to 4-weeks to run its course; the infection was generalized within his peritoneal catheter. They have removed it and are treating it. Doctors believe they have the infection under control.

The reason they had to hold off on the move to UCLA is because he cannot have any type of transplant with the infection that he had. It is a very strong infection to combat internally, so they are taking it very seriously.

We should have a good idea how things are going sometime next week after the holiday. UCLA may be able to tell us more then; they have requested two additional tests. They definitely want the heart cath done, it will have to be done here, and they would like a MRI or maybe a CT of his main artery for transplant. I am hoping it can be started this week.

We will continue to pray for our miracle; we have such a long road ahead and with God anything is possible.

Thank you and God bless,
Elizabeth

Surgery Scheduled

Aaron has had another set back. He will have a surgery tomorrow around noon to have his dialysis catheter removed, he has had an infection that if left will run rampant throughout his entire body. The only way to combat it is through a treatment of antibiotics and to remove the dialysis catheter he had put into place a couple weeks ago.

He will have a new catheter put in it will be for hemodialysis. That will begin on Saturday. Hemodialysis may be very hard on his heart but we know these very competent doctors have decided it is the only solution at this point. They are going to proceed very cautiously with his treatment plan.

Our Aaron certainly keeps them on their toes. He is a fighter we all know that of that. I could not be prouder of my little man.

UCLA Tranfer Delayed

UCLA is on a temporary hold because he cannot have a transplant with this infection; it would be devastating to him. So, every trace of infection has to be gone. The doctors will have to check and recheck him, before he can have the transplant surgery.

UCLA is aware of the situation and once it is established that there is no infection, we can proceed as planed. They have a few more tests that have to be performed here anyway (a heart cauterization and an MRI), so those may be able to happen in the next few weeks.

Special Thank You to ALL

All we can say is that we are so very blessed to be surrounded by the many wonderful people around us.

My past employer Coldwell Banker Amaral has gone beyond anything we could have ever imagined. They have organizing some very special events. Aaron Meadows, Noelle, Michelle and Velya you do not miss a beat. You are doing things before any one thinks of them. Aaron will be back in there playing with Legos in the office, under my desk, before you know it.

And then there’s Marguerite Elcenko and Eric, my wonderful friends. How we love you. The Bake sale was such a huge hit, I can’t believe all you are taking on and with a set of twins, under 2 years old.

We have a special bond; we both lost our children within months of each other that made us part of something that we did not want to be, but we are blessed to have both in our life when this happened. Marguerite went into this mode of I know what to do we will do this and this and don’t worry. I am just so very blessed; Mark and I are so incredibly blessed.

Anne Powers put together the bowling event. Aaron got the biggest kick out of seeing the bowling pin that everyone signed. He will treasure it. We enjoyed the pictures that were taken, but the best part, was seeing Aaron’s smile — seeing his friends bowling for him.

My Mom is our biggest support! When we get bad news, we call her and she is right there, reminding us that we can’t loose faith, and to not even go to a place of despair. She is the best Mom and the greatest Grandma.

She recently searched every Toys R Us from Pittsburgh to San Francisco to find a certain toy that Aaron had to have. She has been with the boys at home, this entire time. With her and my sister Kaylena and Scott our brother-in-law the boys are so happy, they are so secure being with them, it is almost no different than being with us. We just miss them immensely. I can’t wait to be a family again.

The list of friends that are suffering through this with us is long; they call, e-mail and text us, to check on us and are hurting right along with us. Thank you KC, Kay, Lourdes, Lynn, and Joan La Foss my support on the east coast. She is reaching out to us from so many miles away, sending her closest friends that live nearby, to hug us and send her love. 

There are so many more people I can’t possibly name them all and some we don’t even know. You are all just amazing people. You are a much needed support — we love you.  I wish we could hug each and every one of you; you are so special to us.

The medical staff here at UCSF is amazing and they are all working so hard I pray every day that God is with them in all the decisions that they make.

So much is happening and changing each and every day but the one constant in our life, in all this, is Our God.

Our Prayer Request!

We are praying we will all be home soon and this will be over. We don’t know when, but we know it will happen. I wake up every day and think it is a nightmare that we are living but it is our lives, our reality.

Aaron is the reason and he makes it worth it, our miracle will happen.

Thank you and God Bless!

Editor’s Note: Please leave a message and let the Tanner Family know you are praying.

When:  September 18th & 19th
Where:  Coldwell Banker Amaral & Associates
3775 Main Street,
Oakley, CA

Friday from 8:00 am — 1:00 pm
Saturday from 7:00 am — 1:00 pm

If you or anyone you know would like to donate items, please contact either: Noelle: (925) 625.5011 or Velya: (925) 625.5021

100% of all proceeds will be donated to the Aaron Tanner Foundation and anything not sold will be donated to a local shelter.

Thank You!
www.saveabrokenheart.com

We encourage supporters to download, print and freely distribute fliers for this event.