Heart Of A Mariner (surgery costs)

Hi, I'm Catriona (Dexter's mom).

One of Dexter's high school soccer teammates is an exchange student from Cameroon. When he got a physical prior to soccer the practitioner discovered a significant ventricular septal defect (causes heart murmur). The condition is serious enough that it will impact his future health (and almost prevented his Mariner basketball and soccer careers).

Ruth Mitchell, his host mom, has done an amazing amount of work to arrange for open heart surgery at Children's Hospital in Seattle on June 1st. The hospital has provided a full "scholarship" to cover surgical and hospital expenses, otherwise this would not be possible.

A friend purchased plane tickets to Seattle with assistance from a companion fare which Derek and I donated.

This necessary surgery will be life-changing for our 16 year old exchange student friend. He would rather not be named here in hopes that he can keep his surgery private from friends at home.

Meanwhile, the host family needs some help with $1,000 they spent on medical fees getting this far, and then with living expenses for the host mom (and possibly hotel rooms) while she accompanies him on this scary journey. Until surgery is complete and recovery has started it is not clear just how long they will need to stay in Seattle. It could even be as long as two weeks.

They will then travel back to the host home in Anchor Point for further recuperation before the long trip back to Cameroon.

I invite you to assist me in raising $5,000, a relatively small amount in the face of what's already been donated in medical costs and airfare... but a truly significant amount as far as making this whole thing actually happen.

The money will be more helpful the sooner we get it together as the host family is currently pretty stressed about how to afford it.

Thank you!