Dana Stidham

Hi everyone, and welcome to our team page, where we are on a mission to raise money for A.I Dupont Children's Hospital's, 2018 Radiothon!!! There was no way i was going to put up some generic message here, simply asking for ur donation... Instead, im asking you to take a minute to please read this. In doing that, my hope is that you may be able to understand the significance this very hospital has had in our lives, and why this cause is something we take to heart..truly... Its November 15, 2011. My 7 year old, was about to undergo an MRI of his Brain. Now Anthony was healthy in general since the day he was born, aside from the occasional cold. However he had been struggling a bit cognitively, although nothing major and no physical symptoms or anything alarming. But understand, when I tell you, I knew...I just knew something wasnt right. I proceeded to advocate for my child,and demand he have an mri or catscan, just to make sure everything looked alright.. Unbeknownst to us, The day of his MRI , ended up being a day that forever changed my little boys life, and a day I found out what true heartbreak consists of... Upon stepping outside for some air, my phone rang. "Ms. Stidham are you alone?" My heart crashed into my stomach, as my voice became shaky and tears filled my eyes. "Yes i am..why". " Im so incredibly sorry to have to tell you this, but Ms. Stidham, Anthony has a brain tumor, located deep within the brain". Time stood still in that moment, as I said to him, "no...no. Please.. The most concerning issue at the moment, is a condition called hydrocephalus. In other words, his brain is full of spinal fluid at levels that he cannot sustain. He needs surgery immediately".  I remember all becoming blurry, and the feeling of my knees buckling as i dropped. All I could say over and over, was "please..no. This has to be a mistake". He asked me to breathe and said anthonys team of doctors would be there, when i was ready to come in... Pure devastation came over me, bc i knew I could lose, the person that meant everything to me. Anthony was only 7 years old and he had an entire life to live.. I sat in my car, and I sobbed, for what felt like an eternity. Ultimately my son has so bravely endured a total of 5 brain surgeries to date, in addition to 6 weeks of radiation. And hes my HERO... Following his 3rd surgery, and Due to the effects of going so deep in the brain, ant had to re-learn how to walk again. He went months with no vision and one of the worst parts, was not hearing his sweet voice, for some time. Although I felt it was imperative to share anthony battle, this is about The very hospital that held our hand through it ALL. We are talking about physicians and nurses, who treated us as family. It wasnt just their expertise, but the emotional support these people provided us. And you know what? This isnt simply their jobs, instead they are there because they want to be, and this is undeniable. Anthony was able to slowly get back to school work while still inpatient, bc they have an entire room, just for schooltime..with a teacher. This put some familiarity back in anthonys life. They have a "child life" room, which has everything from game systems, to air hockey to arts&crafts to even baking. There is a huge fish tank in there, that ant liked to sit in front of for hours on end... Please understand, there are other children and families faced with the same devastation we were. There are children being diagnosed with life threating illness at this VERY MOMENT, and families who dont know what they will do... PLEASE PLEASE, MAKE A DONATION, RIGHT HERE ON OUR TEAM PAGE. HELP US...HELP THEM..❤❤❤