Warrenville firefighters to hold bazaar for boy fighting to save a limb
It was a choice parents should never have to make: amputation or years of painful operations in the hopes that their 2-year-old could one day walk normally.
Nicole Voda and Jason Donahue chose the latter for their son, Austin Donahue of Warrenville. Now the Warrenville Fire Department is leading the whole community in an effort to give Austin the best chance possible.
"We are very lucky to live in such a caring community filled with such kind residents," Nicole Voda said. "Without the support of others, this process would have been much more difficult to accomplish."
Austin was born with congenital fibular hemimelia, a rare condition that caused his left leg to form improperly. The leg has a knee and ankle, but some of the bones that connect them are missing or stunted.
Area doctors told the family their only choice was amputation. So Nicole and Jason took Austin to Baltimore, where he saw Dr. Dror Paley, a leading doctor in limb lengthening.
On Oct. 30, Paley operated on Austin for seven hours, straightening and breaking his tibia in two places and drilling pins into his bones. Over about four months, Austin's parents will turn the pins, thereby pulling the bones apart and forcing them to grow longer.
Paley also reconstructed Austin's ankle, realigned his foot and cut and lengthened tendons and ligaments.
After returning to Warrenville later this month, Austin and his parents will have to return to Baltimore for checkups every two weeks.
When his leg is lengthened enough, doctors will operate to take out the pins, then put casts on his leg and foot. In another month, the family will have to return to Baltimore to have the casts removed. During and afterward, Austin will need intensive daily physical therapy.
That's just the first round. Austin will have to go through a similar set of surgeries at least once more, at about age 8.
The cost of the whole process is daunting.
Jason and Nicole's income: he works for a company that locates gas and electrical lines and she just graduated from Elmhurst College and will soon go to graduate school for her master's degree in social work.
Word got back to people at the Warrenville Fire Department and auxiliary when, a few months ago, Jason's insurance company began saying that "pre-existing conditions" might keep it from fully funding Austin's treatment.
The department mobilized to help their long-time friends. The Voda family has lived in Warrenville for decades, with Austin's grandfather, Carl Voda, serving as a firefighter for the city. Carl's wife, Cindy, is active on the department's auxiliary force, providing support to firefighters.
"We've known all about Austin since he was born," said Melissa Simmons, an auxiliary member who is leading fundraising efforts to help the family. "Austin is a fire department grandson."
Soon the idea for "Austin's Save a Limb Holiday Bazaar" was born.
The event, which will be Dec. 1 at Warrenville Fire Station 1, will include door prizes, artists, crafters, vendors, chair massages, book sales, bake sales and raffles.
Fire personnel and members of the Warrenville Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 8081 and Warrenville Lions Club are working hard to get the word out about the bazaar and encourage businesses to donate items toward the raffle.
"We spend a lot of late nights on phones and computers," Simmons said.
If for some reason the terror alert should rise Dec. 1, the fire house would shut to the public. But Simmons has a plan: Community Baptist Church in Warrenville has agreed to donate space if the situation arises.
"Austin needs a fundraiser no matter what happens in the world," Simmons said. "No matter what, that fundraiser has to happen."
If you go
What: Austin's Save a Limb Holiday Bazaar to benefit 2-year Austin Donahue
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec 1
Where: Warrenville Fire Station 1, 3S472 Batavia Road, Warrenville
Details: To become a vendor at the bazaar, e-mail saveaustinslimb@warrenvillefire.com or call Cindy Voda at (630) 393-9380