Join Heston's Journey

Dear friends and family,

I’m reaching out to share the story of my beloved grandson, Heston James TeHau. Heston was recently diagnosed with semilobar holoprosencephaly (HPE), a complex condition where the brain fails to fully divide into two hemispheres. The severity of HPE depends on how much of the brain separates correctly and our sweet boy has been diagnosed with the second most severe (semi-lobar). This has caused a lot of shock because so far, Heston has been reaching every milestone imaginable. We now know, that these impairments don’t usually occur right away. Heston’s journey will be based on time and we will have to take things day by day.

Holoprosencephaly is extremely rare. There is nothing a parent does to cause HPE and, sadly enough, nothing they could have done to prevent it. The abnormality is at total random and often times, the fetus fails to make it to birth. “HPE can cause motor impairments, poor muscle tone, wheelchair dependency, dystonia and spasticity, seizures, endocrine dysfunction and cause the individual to be non-verbal”. More than half of children with semilobar HPE without other organ malformations live into at least 12 months of age.”

While this diagnosis is beyond difficult to endure, we are determined to provide Heston with the love, care, and medical attention he needs as he grows and fights to overcome the challenges this condition presents.

Brandon and Shanda will continue to advocate for their baby boy as much as possible and have been incredibly strong throughout this journey. With that being said, the road ahead is going to be very long, full of doctor appointments, specialized treatments, and travel for the best care possible. Heston needs access to the top specialists, therapies, and surgeries, many of which are not available locally. This will place a significant financial burden on the family.

We are reaching out to our community, friends and family for help with the costs of travel, medical expenses, therapies, and other related needs as they care for Heston. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will make a significant difference in his journey and provide much-needed relief for his parents during an extremely challenging time.

How Your Donation Helps:

    •    Travel expenses to specialized doctors and medical facilities

    •    Medical treatments and therapies

    •    Equipment and supplies Heston may need to support his development

    •    Assistance with everyday needs for the family during this time

We are so grateful for any contribution you can make, whether it’s a donation, sharing Heston’s accomplishments with others, PRAYERS, or sending love and positive thoughts our way. Together, we can give Heston the best chance at a brighter future-full of hope, growth, and love.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity and support. We will be forever grateful.

With love, Brandon Shanda & Heston