Do you have time to send a card?

I received this email from the President and Founder of ConKerr Cancer.  Do you have time to send a birthday card to a little boy?

Let me add for those who haven't already heard about Dalton,he was diagnosed with Adrenoleukodystrophy or ALD,a genetically determined neurological disorder that affects 1 in every 17,900 boys worldwide. It was explained to me that the presentation of symptoms occurs between the ages of 4 and 10, and affects the brain with demyelination. Demyelination is the stripping away of the fatty coating that keeps nerve pulses confined and maintains the integrity of nerve signals. This process inhibits the nerves ability to conduct properly, thereby causing neurological deficits, including visual disturbances, auditory discrimination, impaired coordination, dementia, and seizures. Demyelination is an inflammatory response and nerve cells throughout the brain are destroyed.

Boys develop normally until the onset of symptoms occurs. Symptoms typically rival those of attention deficit disorder before serious neurological involvement becomes apparent. The symptoms progress rapidly and lead to vegetative state within two years, and death anytime thereafter.

Since, as you all know,  ConKerr Cancer - A Case for Smiles is for ALL children with serious illnesses, we have been sending pillowcases to Dalton for some time. 

It's not hard to send a card - so I'm hoping they will be flooded with them, and I am hoping you all will forward to everyone you can and ask them to forward also.  And probably not so much FOR Dalton as for his family.  I know you, Cindy and Leslie, know all about that.

I know we all get email things to send cards and the requests are bogus, but this one is for sure legit.  I'm attaching a picture of Dalton that his Mother included in a Christmas card to me, thanking us for the pillowcases.  He is just the cutest thing.  And Alisa Lambert, who sent the email below, has been wonderful keeping a Facebook page going for him with updates for all of us.  She is truly an angel.

I am sewing this weekend a Happy Birthday case, as well as pillowcases for his mother, father, and big brother.  The guys like the Jaguars so that's what they are getting - Dalton is a Georgia Bulldog so that is an EASY one for me to provide, and his mom is getting one with flowers.  But keep that a secret -- they don't know.  I'm sending to Alisa so that she can give them to them at the best time.

Hope you will all send cards and recruit as many others to send also.

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From: Alisa Lambert [mailto:alambertpto@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2011 1:30 PM

 

As some of you may or may not know, for the last 6 months I have been caregiver to a 5 year old boy named Dalton Luder. Dalton has a rare disease that has no cure. He has been confirmed 100% blind since December. He has not been able to speak in over 2 months and has very little hearing in one ear and he no longer recognizes who we are.
 Dalton has been given 12 to 24 months to live however Dr.'s have said they have never seen a child go downhill with this disease as fast as Dalton has. We know that God will heal Dalton's little body either on this side or in heaven and we find comfort that Dalton is in no pain. He came under the care of Hospice 3 weeks ago.
 Two weeks ago I became his fulltime and caregiver and let me say, " I realize I don't have anything to complain about when I look at Dalton and I see all that is going on with him yet he seems at peace." The old saying you can always find someone in worse shape than you are in is VERY true however Dalton is such a blessing to me!
 Dalton's birthday is in just a couple of weeks and he will be six. His mom said her gut instinct is Dalton will not last to see his 7th birthday. That is where you all come in. Would you each take just a moment and send a card to Dalton with a birthday wish and a word of encouragement to his parents. Ask your church family and friends and lets flood this family with support because there is a big lack of support from their family.
You can find pictures of Dalton updated weekly on my page or Dalton's page. Please continue to pray for the Luders as they face whatever lies ahead.
 His address is 246 First Street Folkston Ga. 31547