Gavyn was a carefree 6 year old boy enjoying his summer vacation until he started having seizures in early June 2010 that have not stopped since.  An MRI revealed a lesion on the left side of his brain.  Since that time Gavyn has been in and out of hospitals in  both Bismarck, ND and St. Paul, MN.  The Children's Hospital in St. Paul tried medications to stop the seizures, but nothing worked.

On July 29th a biopsy was done.  The results showed that Gavyn has a very rare disease known as Rasmussen's Syndrome.  This disease causes the seizures that Gavyn has been enduring for months as well as cognitive difficulties, partial paralysis, and weakness.  Gavyn has been started on IvIg treatment, but unfortunately the only reliable treatment is a radical surgery called a hemispherectomy in which half of the brain is removed.  

In Gavyn's case the left side of his brain is the side that is being affected.  On Friday, August 13th, Gavyn had a surgery to remove a portion of the left side of his brain.  They are trying to buy some time in hopes that the right side of his brain can learn to take over for his speech, but in a few months he will need a second surgery to complete the hemispherectomy.

Following the surgery he won't be able to use his right hand, he may not be able to speak at first (the left side of the brain has the language center), and he will need to relearn how to walk.  This will require months of therapy, first in the hospital and then later on on an outpatient basis closer to his home.  Gavyn will learn to talk, walk, and be the normal, active, happy kid he was just a few months ago, but it will take time.  Needless to say Gavyn will be in the hospital for awhile still.

Cristy and Eric, Gavyn's parents, are not currently working and are staying with Gavyn in the hospital.  Please help Gavyn, Cristy, and Eric (and baby brother Aiden) to make it through this difficult time without the added stress of medical bills, mortgages, grocery money, and the everyday expenses that they will incur.  

They need to to be able to devote all of their time and efforts to Gavyn without worrying about these things.  This is where you come in.  Every little bit will help.  Just put yourself in their shoes for a bit and imagine your world turned upside down.  They didn't ask for this and they certainly don't deserve it, but this is the hand they have been dealt and they are doing what any parent would do in this situation and they are handling it with grace. 

Please do your part and believe that good comes to those who give.

For updates on Gavyn please check his CaringBridge site. 

You can also make an 'offline' donation if you prefer at any Wells Fargo Bank to the Gavyn Herfendal Donation Account.