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James Maughan Benefit Fund

It was Mother's Day, 2013 and something wasn't right at the Maughan household. Two-year-old James hadn't been feeling well; James was running a fever and had become spotty. His mother Angie - a high school math and science teacher - decided to take him to the hospital.

Within hours of his arrival, James was in critical condition. He fought very hard to hold onto his life "“ a fight that would last five days until he was put on total life support.

James Maughan had contracted bacterial meningitis "“ an infection that viciously attacks the victim's blood and organs. This infection has differing effects for everyone, for some it may have no effect, for others it can activate. For the toddler James, the infection was deadly. Within hours, his white blood cells were eradicated and ink-like blotches of blood refusing to clot covered his body.

The strain of meningitis that James contracted "“ Neisseria meningitidis, serogroup B is extremely rare. Of the 17 meningitis-related cases in Illinois in 2012, only 5 were this strain.

The first hours and days went on, and through the power of a family, community and friends coming together, giving blood and plasma, the power of love, and the power of the incredible Children's Hospital at OSF, James began to show signs of improvement.

James has begun his recovery from this terrible infection. Little James had gone from being under watchful eye on an hour-by-hour basis to looking towards the future.

Unfortunately, the recovery James is going through does not come without a price. The infection took with it James' right hand, left leg "“ halfway up to the knee, and a fingertip.

While James is doing better, and is finally back at home with his parents and brother and sister, his family has a long road ahead.

As it currently stands, James' is getting around by wheelchair. He is going to need more surgery, prosthesis, physical therapy and countless medical follow-ups. James' home is not currently handicap accessible and when the family goes somewhere and must bring the wheelchair, the vehicle no longer holds everyone.

James is the product of something truly miraculous, a testament to the power of family, friendship, caring, love, faith and medical technologies at the Children's Hospital of Illinois.

Even at two years old, James is an inspiration to everyone around him, taking this so well while being so strong and ready to move forward. We want to help out James and his family prepare for the future of countless medical visits, therapy, preparing the home and prosthesis (just think of how many different sized shoes you had from age two to when you stopped growing!)


http://www.pjstar.com/news/x986311169/Blood-drive-fundraiser-set-as-Peoria-toddler-battles-bacterial-meningitis?zc_p=0

We are raising funds to pay for prosthesis for James, which was estimated for the first three changes to run about $4875 for the cost of the equipment, fittings and co-pays!


Oh wow! We have hit our goal and then some! Thank you so much everyone for your generosity! Please, keep giving and everything else will be given to the Maughan family for anything that James may need to have a better life!



Thank you so much for helping us.


Sincerely,
The James Maughan Benefit Committee

Help Us Help James!
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Donations 

  • Mark Ellis
    • $250 (Offline)
    • 11 yrs
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Organizer

Jeffrey Inman
Organizer
Peoria, IL

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