We Need Winter at the Beach

This past week I got to meet Suzanne in person and hear her Momma's heart for her daughter. Suzanne is a writer for Homeschool Enrichment magazine and writes the homeschool humor column. Her daughter has a need though, that is no laughing matter. I asked her to share her story on my blog with the hopes that maybe one of my readers would have the first piece of information/lead needed to help Suzanne and her daughter. I call it "Operation Winter on the Beach." :) ~Maureen

The summer heat will be creeping into Florida over the next few months - or just showing up on the doorstep in April saying

"I'm here, ready or not!"

For many, summer means BBQ's and fun outdoor days; lazy rivers and flower gardens. For our 17-year old daughter, Winter Marie, summer heat has typically meant pain, itch, rash, multiplied medications, increased infection risk as well as an amplified potential for life-threatening reactions.

Since Winter turned one, she has had severe eczema and immune challenges. Rounds and rounds of medication, food and chemical testing, alternative meds and contemporary medicine have brought her to a baseline that we call "normal."

When the temperature rises, inflammation which continually burns under her top layers of skin - unseen to the outsider, but felt by her - rises to the surface.

The pain and itch intensify, the need to scratch begs in earnest.

Mediation by medication isn't enough. And the itchy pain becomes a scratched arm, face, legs. The scratches rise. The wound weeps. Infection waits its opportunity.

The past two summers Winter and her mother have spent the hottest three months staying at a Ronald McDonald House in Colorado, under doctors' recommendation. Living life housebound for nearly half the years of her life is no longer a healthy option, when there are others.

This summer, Winter's team of doctors, from Duke University Medical Center (Durham, NC), National Jewish Health (Denver, CO) and locally in (Jacksonville, FL) recommend, due to new-to-her treatments we are testing, that we find a summer location on the beach so she can try being outside in the heat, along with the health benefits of sun and salt water.

In conjunction with her new medical routines, they are hoping this environment will give her a good testing ground before subjecting her to inland summer heat and humidity.

Some things we must consider, for medical purposes:

• fire station/ambulance available in 20 min or less
• within 20 minutes ambulance drive to hospital
• on the beach or walking distance to the beach (Mom’s health prevents her from driving)
• pet-free room
• room with a tub
• air-conditioning
• grocery store (and a pharmacy) w/i walking distance, or transportation available (public or otherwise)
• access to cooking facilities (simple is fine)
• internet access (WiFi preferred) for family/church/friend support

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Do you know of a place we can stay? Or have friends, family, business associates who might be able to help? Here are some possible locations:

North Carolina
Bodie Island
Hatteras Island
Roanoke Island

South Carolina
Myrtle Beach
Hilton Head
Kiawah Island
Surfside Beach
Pawleys Island

Georgia
Jekyl Island
St Simons Island
Tybee Island

Florida
Jacksonville Beach
Amelia Island
St Augustine
Ponte Vedra
Neptune Beach
Fernandina Beach


If you have leads we can follow, please email Suzanne, the mama, suzmom at msn dot com or contact Suzanne on Facebook.

I don't know how it will work out, but God does ...

will you pray with us? for us?