Ethan Parsons - Stand Strong Fund

At the age of 16, Ethan Parsons of Osburn, Idaho, was a typical teenage boy in many ways. He loved fishing, motorsports and turning wrenches on trucks and 4x4's. He worked to earn his spending money, putting time in as a lifeguard at Silver Rapids and later working at Dave Smith Motors. Ethan even became CPR certified and received an award for volunteering at the local fire department. He put in many hours at the hall and developed close friendships with the firefighters. Ethan was well on his way to becoming a responsible young man. 


In October 2017, still 16 years old, Ethan began not feeling like himself. He was having stomach issues and feeling abnormally ill. Although he was seen by medical professionals, it was thought that he may be having some anxiety issues due to parental separation. Ethans symptoms kept developing and in January 2018 he began having episodes of passing out. This is when Ethan's world turned upside down. He and his mother Brenda made several trips to the ER, had numerous doctor's appointments, counseling, testing and to no avail, no one could provide a definite answer to what could be going on. 

In May of 2018, more symptoms came. Ethan was beginning to have numbness in his legs and by the end of June he lost normal leg function and had to resort to using a wheelchair.

In one year, Ethan had visited a cardiologist, neurologist, counselors, had physical therapy, blood screens, MRI's and saw several medical professionals...and still no answer to his condition. At one point there was hope that he may be able to go to an advanced hospital in Seattle or Minnesota but Ethan was facing another issue of turning 18. In the medical world that seems to play a big role for assistance and it was unfortunate that nobody would take him as a patient until he was an adult. 

Ethan turned 18 in December 2018 and an answer was still sounding hopeless. Then in January 2019, Brenda turned to another direction for her son and they went to a chiropractor. The information they have received has been a blessing and given them renewed hope. 

Ethan and Brenda will be on their way to Seattle Children's Neurosurgeons in the beginning of March. With a possible diagnosis of Chiari Malformation, Ethan also has a cyst on his brain that had burst and turned into a benign mass that is causing pressure. He also has a herniated C1 in the spinal chord. The plan is to have another MRI on March 4th and then meet with a team of doctors the following day. The ultimate goal will be for Ethan to safely undergo a multi doctor surgery to remove the mass and make needed repairs to his spine. Post surgery procedures are unknown at this time, but the recovery process would most likely include in depth physical therapy to get his body in motion again.

It has already been a long road physically, mentally and financially. Brenda will be missing time from her job at Silver Valley Veterinary Clinic and the expenses that will be incurred on the trip to Seattle is unknown. Any help that could be provided would be greatly appreciated. Even if you cannot help financially, a prayer or good thought is just as valuable in helping this family find a way for Ethan to "Stand Strong" and get an answer to his current condition.