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The Huron Expositor • October 31, 2007 Page 9
Nov. 10 benefit will help nine -month-old Kailee
Kennedy who is facing open-heart surgery
Jennifer Hubbard
MEEMEMBEEMO
Friends, family and the Vanastra-
area community are joining togeth-
er to host a Nov. 10 benefit to help a
local family and their daughter, who
is facing open heart surgery later
this month.
With two healthy children -
Cordell and Paige, ages five and
three - Eric and Lori Kennedy were
surprised to find complications
seven months into their third preg-
nancy.
Born on Jan. 2, 2007 at St.
Joseph's hospital in London, weigh-
ing just four pounds, one ounce,
Kailee Kennedy was diagnosed
with congenital heart disease and
Pierre Robin sequence - resulting in
a secondary cleft palate and a
recessed chin.
The newest member of the
Kennedy family has been able to
visit home only seven nights since
her birth.
Due to her medical complications,
a tracheotomy and feeding tube are
necessary.
"This is something we never
dreamt would happen, we have two
healthy children," Lori explained.
"Other than it being a genetic dis-
order, we have no actual diagnosis.
The doctor told us that it could be
the beginning of something new...
it's a mystery."
Kailee has since been transferred
to the London Children's Hospital,
where she receives constant medical
care. The couple travels to London
nearly every day to spend time with
their daughter.
And though both Eric and Lori
have been trained in aspects of
Kailee's care, a 24-hour nurse is
required during any home visits.
"If I look back a year or two ago, I
couldn't imagine learning all of this
stuff. It's something I thought nurs-
es did, but it's amazing what you do
when you have to," she said. ,
"It's very difficult to get care for
children with high needs in this
area. We've put a few ads in the
paper, but we're no further ahead
now than we were in June."
Dividing their time between
Kailee in London and Cordell and
Paige ages five and three - at
home, has definitely been challeng-
ing, the parents agree.
But help from family, friends and
community groups like the Lions
Club, Kinettes and Kinsmen have
made the experience a little easier.
"Our friends and family were real-
ly there for us, and they continue to
be there for us whenever we need
them," Lori said.
"I've been pleasantly surprised by
how much people in the community
care and how much they have done
Lori and Eric Kennedy, of
Cordell and Kailee.
for us."
Eric added the medical staff at
the London hospitals have also been
very supportive and understanding.
"They've made it 100 per cent eas-
ier and we've developed a real con-
nection and bond with them."
Kailee will soon be transferred to
Toronto for open heart surgery on
Oct. 30 to repair her aortic valve
and two holes in her heart.
The Kennedys hope to welcome
Kailee into their Vanastra home as
soon as possible, but the medical
equipment and home care required
to make that possible will be costly.
"Some of the expenses are covered
by health insurance, but there's oth-
ers that are just at 75 per cent,"
Eric explained.
"Even with that 75 per cent some
of the costs are unreal."
With hopes of easing the couple's
financial burden, the Kennedys'
friends and family have been meet-
ing regularly to organize a fundrais-
er.
"I've seen some of the bills that
Eric and Lori are facing and we're
hoping the money we raise will help
cover some of those costs and the
future costs of caring for Kailee,"
friend David Whyte explained.
"It has no doubt put the family
under a great emotional and finan-
cial strain in their effort to main-
tain a sense of belonging and family
with her in London, all the while
still trying to work and live with
their two other children in
Vanastra."
Whyte plays on the Ringling Bros.
baseball team along with Eric. He
said the Seaforth-based team will
helping at the fundraiser, which is
Jennifer Hubbard photo
Vanastra and their children Paige,
set for Nov.10 at
the Vanastra
Recreation
Centre.
The commu-
nity -organized
event will fea-
ture a dance,
silent auction,
from 7-11 p.m.
and euchre tour-
nament, from 7-9
-p.m. The dance
will run through-
out the night,
ending at 1 a.m.
Age of majori-
ty is required
and late lunch
will be provided.
"We've held
off on holding a
benefit event
because for
awhile we
thought we were
going to lose
her," said Jenn
Ducharme,
Kailee's aunt.
"But Kailee's a little fighter and
she's proved to all of us that she's
not going anywhere."
Tickets are $5 each and can be
purchased through friends and fam-
ily or at the door that night.
"I don't think there's a specific
amount of money we want to raise,
just enough to relieve some of the
financial pressure and strain,"
added Alyssa McLachlan, Kailee's
aunt.
For more information, contact
Ducharme at (519.) 482-7984 or
Whyte at (519) 527-2439. A website
www.tcc.on.cal—hcwcaq/RinglingBro
s/K.ailee - has also been created.
Ducharme said response to the
event has been "phenomenal" so far,
with many area residents, business-
es and organizations offering their
support.
Anyone wishing to make a dona-
tion "in trust for Kailee Kennedy,"
can do so at the Royal Bank of
Canada, through account number
5041561.
."We don't know what the future
holds, so we have to worry about
today, not tomorrow. Otherwise it
just gets to be too overwhelming,"
Lori said.
Kindergarten Registration 2008-2009
November 5 - 30 at Your Community Public School
Times and Locations Seaforth & Area Schools
All sessions begin at 9:00 am
Monday, November 5
Brussels PS Call 519-$$74361
Friday, November 9
Huron CentennialPSCall 519-233-3330
'Tuesday, November 13
Seaforth PS Call 519-527-0790
Wednesday, November 14
Blyth PS Call 519-523-9201
Wednesday, November 21
Grey Central . Ca11519-07 1
Junior Kindergarte
%ry Vex. 34, tOCiti
CAnadrevk3
Aft tIW5
tifflAtireitetA 101.005.
Geoff Mmnams k'
Dlractor of Education
• The Avon Maitland
District School Board
and its community public
elementary schools are
proud to offer a quality
teaming opportunity for our
young citizens entering
school in fall 2008.
During the month of
November we celebrate
the registration, with
special activities at
many schools, such as
crafts, story time, music
and refreshments.
Parents can learn
more about their child's
development, learn
about local programs
and services, and get
tips on how to prepare
their child for school.
For further information
call your school or
1-800-592-5437.
Senior Kindergarten
ClIildret, 4 Hewrs 41id
14 Dec. 34, Zook
Are erlifwe for Senior
kiAdersarteh in Zoos.
www:yourschools.ca
Jenny 1Mrstep
Chair