Help Mr. Tucker Breathe

We are so fortunate to have found such a wonderful "school" for our kids to attend while we work.  We've loved it from the very start and really cannot imagine how different life would be had we ended up anywhere else.  Most of what makes it so amazing involves the wonderful staff.  They are all amazing.  And they love these boys like their own.  They have amazing and unique talents and we love how they are exposed to so many new things there that Kenny and I wouldn't necessarily think to teach them.  One of those amazing staff members needs our help.  Mr. Tucker was one of Max's teachers.  He's a really cool young guy covered in tattoos and piercings - perhaps one of the nicest, most genuine guys you'll ever meet.  He too attended Tuckaway as a child and now is back as a teacher.  I guess he loved it too.  He spends his days chasing toddlers and they all adore him.  I can't tell you how many times Max has begged to see Mr. Tucker.  Tucker played so much basketball with Max and really taught Max to love it.  It was no coincidence that when Tucker got sick a few months back, Max stopped being interested in hoopball.  He started calling Max "Roni"...like Max-a-roni...or Macaroni.  It stuck and I probably call him Roni more often than I call him Max these days.  And check out Tucker's crazy hair...it's a lot like Max's (at least in this picture)! :)

Unfortunately Tucker suffers from Cystic Fibrosis.  It's a horrible disease and shortens lives considerably every day.  As I write this, he's in the hospital fighting for his life, and a new pair of lungs. He's waiting to be accepted into the lung transplant program at Duke but meanwhile needs financial help to ease the burden.  He needs around the clock care for months following the transplant and it's in another state.  This means someone will have to essentially move to Duke to be with him and that person, or people, probably will have a hard time holding down a job while this happens. He seems to have a wonderfully supportive family and his friends have really stepped up to the challenge, but he needs all the help he can get. 

His friends have set up a website to help raise the money he needs for a transplant.  It's working.  He's getting closer and closer but the financial burden of this procedure and recovery are huge.  Our family is also walking with Tucker's team in the Cystic Fibrosis walk in a few weeks.  We're trying to raise funds for that as well, but are most interested in helping with Tucker's more immediate needs.  We love Tucker and we want so badly for him to get the chance to breathe.  To get to experience what we all take for granted every day.

I hate asking for money and help. I really do.  But this is really important to our family.  We want to do all that we can to help him.  I know that the economy is rough, and most of you don't know Tucker and have your own friends and family that you are trying to help.  I completely appreciate that and thank you for doing whatever you can to help anyone that you can.  I do hope that you will at least keep Tucker and his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers over the coming months.  That will help a lot too.

Thanks for taking the time to keep up with us and helping us to help Tucker breathe.

Link for donation site: http://www.gofundme.com/helptuckerbreathe