THE CHESTNUTS URGENTLY NEED HELP!!!
Donation protected
Shelby Chestnut is having major surgery to remove the head of the right femur and also lengthen the tendons in her left leg at the end of August. Her femur grinds against the hip and causes serious and constant pain every time her leg is moved due to complications of CP and spastic quadriplegia. Lengthening the tendons in her other leg will relieve the pain and severe contractures (painful restriction of muscles, joints, tendons, etc.) she has in that leg.
Shelby is expected to have a long recovery period, up to 6 months for all this. While she is in the hospital, additional paid aides will be needed to care for Ben, her brother who also has spastic quadriplegia as well as transverse myelitis and requires tube feedings 12 hours a day. This is because the approved service hours for the current aides will be cut from 10 hours to 5 hours a day as only one disabled child will be at home. Additional childcare will also be required for Ben and Shelby’s 7 year old sibling.
Shelby will need braces for about 6 months. She will need extra mobility items to enhance her recovery and to assist caregivers as she cannot talk to indicate when she is in pain or where the pain is located.
Things will be needed to increase, maintain or improve her already limited mobility and enable her to participate in family activities at least in some limited fashion, for instance a special positioning chair. Other useful and helpful things could include PC-led activities to help prevent regression in learning and to add to PT/OT exercises and help encourage her to do the exercises.
There are many other items the Chestnut family will need. But as most of you already know, the Chestnuts cannot afford all of this. They really, really will need your help and your prayers at this time.
ANY assistance you can provide will be gratefully acepted. Donations can be made to:
The Chestnut Foundation
c/o Donna Hart
134 Kenilworth Rd
Merion Station, PA 19066
or online at
thechestnutfoundation.org
Shelby is expected to have a long recovery period, up to 6 months for all this. While she is in the hospital, additional paid aides will be needed to care for Ben, her brother who also has spastic quadriplegia as well as transverse myelitis and requires tube feedings 12 hours a day. This is because the approved service hours for the current aides will be cut from 10 hours to 5 hours a day as only one disabled child will be at home. Additional childcare will also be required for Ben and Shelby’s 7 year old sibling.
Shelby will need braces for about 6 months. She will need extra mobility items to enhance her recovery and to assist caregivers as she cannot talk to indicate when she is in pain or where the pain is located.
Things will be needed to increase, maintain or improve her already limited mobility and enable her to participate in family activities at least in some limited fashion, for instance a special positioning chair. Other useful and helpful things could include PC-led activities to help prevent regression in learning and to add to PT/OT exercises and help encourage her to do the exercises.
There are many other items the Chestnut family will need. But as most of you already know, the Chestnuts cannot afford all of this. They really, really will need your help and your prayers at this time.
ANY assistance you can provide will be gratefully acepted. Donations can be made to:
The Chestnut Foundation
c/o Donna Hart
134 Kenilworth Rd
Merion Station, PA 19066
or online at
thechestnutfoundation.org
Organizer
Donna Roper Hart
Organizer
Narberth, PA
