Helping Ezra

J Douglas Duty Jr is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi my name is Doug Duty and I have been friends with Pat Menke the father of Ezra Menke for almost 18 years. Pat and Heather are the parents of three wonderful boys (Cade 17, Randy 12, and Ezra 2).

In February of 2012 Ezra was diagnosed with Epilepsy and mild Cerebral Palsy. His seizures last 20-30 minutes or more and don't stop unless medication is given and he always requires a trip to the ER. The types of seizures that Ezra is having are called Status Epilepticus (see links bellow for more information). The major issue is that the longer the seizures continue (length), the greater the risk for permanent damage to his brain. On the last 4 seizures he vomited excessively while seizing and on his most recent he actually started to aspirate (fluid or vomit/liquid going into his lungs) while he was sleeping. Due to the fact that Ezra does not cry out, make a lot of noise, or is able to alert someone that he is having a seizure, his Dad is now sharing an air mattress with Ezra in his room.

His parents were told in June of 2013 that Ezra was a possible candidate for brain surgery. After months of testing and numerous stays in the hospital, a date for brain surgery was set.
The first surgery(4-6 hours), an EEG grid will be placed directly on his brain and he will be monitored for around a week to gather the necessary data for his 2^nd surgery. The Second Surgery, (also around 4-6 hours) will be done to remove the portion of his brain causing his seizures. The ultimate goal is that the surgeries will correct his Epilepsy. There are risks to Ezra having the 2 surgeries, however, if he does not have the surgeries the long term risk can be life threatening.

Ezra's dad is retired military and does carry insurance for the family, however, with the frequency in the ER, the trips in the ambulance, parking, out of network hospital visits, and the time off from work, the family is finding themselves financially and emotionally exhausted.

The Cost of Ezra's Medical issues are as follows:
· So far they have paid over $15,000 in direct medical bills and cost of being in the hospital from February 2012 to today.
· Around $5,000 in outstanding medical bills as of this posting.
· Estimate of $8,000-$10,000 for Ezra's upcoming Surgery's.
· Estimate of medical expenses will be around $6,500 for Ezra's Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy per year after his surgery (Due to his medical issues it is hard to say how long and often he may need all or some of these)

In Christ,
Doug Duty