A Harvest of Hope for Amber

HERE IS THE LATEST UPDATE ON AMBER!! 

 October 27, 2008

Amber is in need of prayers.  She is currently in the hospital with a Staph Infection.  She is receiving anti-biotics.  We will keep you up to date with her condition.  We are hoping for a speedy recovery.

Aunt Selena

October 1, 2008

 Amber returned from John Hopkins at the end of August after a three week stay and intensive physical therapy.  Amber is continuing to work very hard and to try and stay positive.  One thing that is keeping her positive is the opportunity for a stem cell transplant.  Dr. Kerr at John Hopkins Hospital is doing research and told Amber that she could be a part of the stem cell transplant research they are doing in the summer of 2010.  This could result in a cure for paralysis.  Dr. Kerr has implanted paralyzed rats with stem cells and they are now walking!!  This was exciting news. 

Please continue to keep Amber in your thoughts and prayers.  And keep in mind that as we come closer to the stem cell transplant, we will be in desperate need for financial donations, due to the fact that this experimental research will not be covered by insurance.  Help us give Amber the chance to walk again!

Thank you and God Bless.

July 2008

Amber is getting ready to return to Baltimore for a month long visit for physical therapy.  She needs continued prayers as she works hard to recover.  We will post more info after her visit.

Thanks!

February 1, 2008

   Amber has just returned from a 2 day visit to John Hopkins University to have her progress checked.  Amber spent two weeks at the Kennedy krieger Institute for Spinal Cord Injuries in December and has been continuing her therapy 3-4 days a week since then.  The doctors at John Hopkins are encouraged by Amber's progress and they have seen some improvement.  Amber has some new response in her upper legs and she can recognize some feeling in her right foot.  Amber has been working very hard in water therapy, in the standing frame, in leg braces and in traditional physical therapy to strengthen her legs and regain movement.  BUT the doctors at John Hopkins want to see more improvement.  With Amber's condition there is a 2 year window from the onset of her symptoms.  So we are racing to get as much imporvement as we can before August of 2009, because after that, she will most likely not improve any more.  SO the doctors at John Hopkins want her to come back and stay 4 WEEKS at the Kennedy-Krieger Institute for intense daily therapy.  Amber and  family are very happy about this because we are excited to see all the progress that she will make with this kind of intense therapy for a month straight.   The possiblities are very exciting for her given the opportunity for this kind of treatment. But the financial obligation will add up fast with a month long stay and we may need to have another fundraiser soon.  Please keep Amber and family in your thougts and prayers, and thank you again to all of you who have made such generous donations to help Amber get the continued therapy she needs to walk again.

God Bless!

A Harvest of Hope

    The Ramada Inn and Conference Center present "A Harvest of Hope". This event is a fundraising "Silent Auction", dance and benefit for Miss Amber Rayburn. 

    Amber is a 13 year-old 8th grader at Jessie Clark Middle School.  On August 1, 2007 she was stricken with a rare neurological disorder of the spine called Transverse Myelitis.  This condition has left Amber paralyzed from the waist down. 

    ALL proceeds from this event will go directly to pay for treatment Amber is to recieve at the Transverse Myelitis Center at John Hopkins University in Balitimore, Maryland.

DONATIONS ARE STILL NEEDED TO PAY FOR ONGOING TRAVEL, TREATMENT AND THERAPY FOR AMBER.  Donations can be made out to "A Harvest of Hope" and sent to Betty Fowler at 452 Parkway drive, Lexington, Kentucky 40504.  OR you can make a donation to "A Harvest of Hope" at any Kentucky Central Bank.