The McKinleyville Lions Club is reaching out to the community to assist a family in need. Elizabeth Jones has volunteered with our club since she was a little girl and is now in need of assistance.

As many of you know, Baby Anthony, Elizabeth and Joshua Jones have had a very challenging eight months. Baby Anthony was born on March 1 by emergency c-section. He was nine weeks early, weighing only one pound, 15.5 ounces, weight-wise putting him at the size of 24-week gestation. Baby Anthony was life-flighted to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland, where he has been since birth, due to lung and airway issues. He has continued to grow, thrive and show his personality and now weighs over 13 pounds!

On September 15, Baby Anthony had surgery to insert a tracheotomy, g-tube and repair two hernias. Elizabeth has been in Oakland with Baby Anthony almost the entire time, and Joshua has been there the majority. Through the hospital, Joshua, Elizabeth and Joshua's brother, Robert, are completing a three-month training course on how to care for a trach baby and learning infant CPR in the hopes that Baby Anthony can be released in December. With the tracheotomy, he will need 24-7 eyes-on-care once released.

Here is where they could use your help. Because Humboldt County does not have a children's hospital with trach baby experience, the family has to relocate to Redding because Baby Anthony has to live near a children's hospital while he has the tracheotomy, which will be between two and four years. As a young family just starting out, this is an expense they were not expecting and have not saved up for, but it has to be done for Baby Anthony.

In these tough economic times, we understand that not everyone can donate. We are asking everyone to please share this fundraiser in hopes that it will reach more people.

We appreciate your consideration.