Day 27 - Sip, Shop and Save Party

[KHickey]

Today, my friend's Debi & Chuck helped to coordinate "Croy's Cause: NUCDF Sip, Shop and Save Party". 15 vendors were at Mcguire's Art Gallery in Buford, GA and 30% of all proceeds goes back to the NUCDF.

Their angel, Croy, was born with a urea cycle disorder which is a genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of one of the enzymes in the urea cycle which is responsible for removing ammonia from the blood stream. The urea cycle involves a series of biochemical steps in which nitrogen, a waste product of protein metabolism, is removed from the blood and converted to urea. Normally, the urea is transferred into the urine and removed from the body. In urea cycle disorders, the nitrogen accumulates in the form of ammonia, a highly toxic substance, and is not removed from the body resulting in hyperammonemia. Ammonia then reaches the brain through the blood, where it causes irreversible brain damage, coma and/or death. They thought they had this disease beat... but unfortunately this was not the case.

Croy suffered a minor brain injury as a toddler, giving him autistic-type tendencies. He was excelling and learning, reading, talking, surfing, rock climbing, hugging and laughing all the time; he was living a full, fun life with this disease. He was only hospitalized 5 times over the 9 years he had this disease. In the summer of 2008, he was hospitalized again and this time, he wasn't as lucky. He lost his battle with this disease (and due to medical mistakes) on July 15th, 2008 - one week before his 12th birthday. Croy was an organ donor, and his organs now live on in 5 others!

When this all happened, I made several donations to the official www.nucdf.org website (The National Urea Cycle Disorders Foundation). I just got notice that today's fundraiser had thus far brought in $954. Since I live in Illinois and was unable to attend the fundraiser, I donated another #$6 to this great cause to make it an even $1000.

Please think of Croy today; think of all of the other children who are living with this disease and consider donating directly through the www.nucdf.org website in memory of Croy West! Every little bit counts.

[Deb~ Community Manager]

I would be honored to do that. Fabulous pic...