Hunter's Transplant Funding

      This is the story of a little red hot rod who was manufactured with faulty parts.  He is a genuine, one of a kind model!  A spotless paint job, his tires always shining.  His interior is an untouched and innocent white!  His motor's always revved up high; shifting gears faster than most! But, you see, his fueling system just isn't supplying him with enough energy to continue the race. And his exhaust pipes-   well...    Let's just say the aren't exactly environmentally friendly!  Good news is that he's heading to DC to see if he is a candidate for a system overhaul!
       To know Hunter is to understand how I can still see the humor in the little things when the big picture is looking rather grim- one of the many lessons this beautiful buzz cut boy has taught me.  His southern charm, unique accent and awesome hugs will melt even the hardest of hearts!  I can only pray and remain faithful that God will continue this young life and use Hunter as He sees fit to shine His light through the darkness.
Welcome to Hunter's world...
       In his little 7 1/2 year life, Hunter has overcome many obstacles with a relentless determination and a splash of oddball humor.  Mastering Kindergarten with his peers, Hunter was well on his way to thriving at Valverda Elementary.  However, when combined, Autism, ADHD and extremely finicky eating habits, plus Hunter's uniquely designed gastrointestinal system , growth failure was the unwelcome result.  After placing a g-tube for nutritional support and weight gain, Hunter's GI system seemed to spiral out of control.
       Constipation lead to horrific "cleanout" routines that eventually no longer worked.  A surgically placed MACE button that would administer enemas from above the blockage also proved unsuccessful in relieving his colon.  Hunter was diagnosed with Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction, where his colon acted as if it were blocked or obstructed with out reason.  This lead to removal of the unhealthy parts and eventually his entire colon and parts of his small intestine.  His stomach began to hold food for extended periods rather than emptying which caused Hunter severe abdominal pain and vomiting.  His feeding tube was then placed farther down past his stomach into his small intestine to help ensure he was getting a proper amount of nutrition.
       With his feedings going straight into his small intestine and with no large intestine to complete the processing and absorb water before passage, Hunter was now plagued with constant uncontrollable diarrhea.  The decision was soon made to place an ileostomy with a bag to collect the stool.  I will summarize by saying that sensitive skin, a feeding tube right next to a constantly pooping stoma and the strong adhesives needed to hold the bag in place have been nothing short of a nightmare!   
      Autism may spare Hunter some of the trauma by giving him an unusually high pain tolerance, but the emotional toll of countless hospital stays, surgeries, scopes, procedures, IV sticks, tests and labwork is building. 
       Right now, his small intestine is rebelling as well.  There are periods of time that it slows to a crawl, not allowing him to be fed at all.  He relies on a PICC line with IV nutrition to sustain him.  This leaves Hunter extremely vulnerable to infection and with an already weakened immune system, Hunter has been hospitalized all but a few days since Thanksgiving!  He no longer has the natural GI absorption path of certain nutrients, especially iron which is necessary to produce red blood cells.  He has received multiple blood transfusions for recurring anemia.  His body is very sensitive to the antibiotics and other medications required to treat him-  A few weeks back a rare, extremely uncomfortable and scary reaction to vancomycin and last week, anaphylactic shock less than a minute into an iron infusion.   
       In his current state, Hunter's life is very limited.  In an answer to many prayers, Hunter's team of physicians and specialists were successful in securing an evaluation for intestinal transplant at Georgetown University Hospital's Pediatric Transplant Center.  This is one of the most difficult situations a parent could end up. One can only imagine the burden that his parents Ramie and Kym carry daily.  Until now, they have asked for little besides support and prayers.  Please continue to pray and consider a monetary donation as  well.  The tremendous expenses they will soon encounter cannot be managed without the support of family, friends, a caring community and strangers alike. 

     So this, my friends, is the story of Hunter Louis Scarborough-  a little red hot rod who will be racing up to DC, hoping for a system overhaul! 


But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3: 17-18