.: Advertisers
.: The Cause
The 2008 CHOZEN Awards and Hope Award began as a way to encourage and inspire the citizens of Atlanta; and today it has evolved into a mission to help a young mother and her ailing baby boy. To find out how it all began, read the story of Baby Ojore Jevell Bryant below as told by his mother Brittany McMullen .
.: The Story of Baby Ojore Jevell Bryant
I am a 21 year old African American mother living in Atlanta , GA. I just recently had my first child on June 28, 2008. His name is Ojore Jevell Bryant, but you can call him O.J. When I was 5 months my OBGYN referred me to a specialist because they detected a problem. The specialist determined that my son had gastroschisis. This is a condition in which the fetus’s intestines are growing on the outside of the body. The specialist assured me that my son would be okay. That the pediatric surgeon would simply put the intestines back in the inside and sew up his abdominal wall.
O.J had surgery on June 29, 2008 the day after his birth. His surgeon Dr. Parker called me and said that his abdominal wall had closed while he was in my womb and cut off the blood circulation to the intestines on the outside, and they had died off. My son has 19 centimeters of intestines left. This forced them to put him on a colostomy bag. All the doctors that I have spoken with have told me that my son’s intestines are to short for him to sustain life. They gave me the option to send him home with hospice and let him die. My son is too beautiful and full of life to let anyone give up on him especially me. They said the only other option is for him to get an intestinal transplant. Due to his condition he can’t eat by mouth. He is fed intravenously, artificial nutrition called TPN. The doctors told me that the TPN deteriorates the liver over a long period of time, and they predict that he will also need a liver transplant because of that.
We will have to move out to New York or Nebraska for the transplants, and the problem is that I don’t have the means. The social worker at the hospital said that I can stay there while he’s there. But when he is discharged she can’t do very much. I have to stay there after the surgery so I can go to his follow up visits. I need help raising the money so I can be there for my little prince. Please help me!
I receive dozens of emails from other members concerning events and things that they may need. I really need my NABFEME sisters to help me out right now. I’m begging you to please spread the word on my situation. I will appreciate any references, referrals, support, sponsors, and monetary donations. We are currently at Egleston Hospital at Emory. We will be here a while because he got sick and they want to do another surgery on him before the transplant. This will be his 3rd surgery and he’s only 4 months. He is very strong!
I know that you are so powerful and you have so many connections, that with the help of God you can give my son a chance at life. Sisters, my son is the world to me and his dad, and we are willing to do anything to help our son through this. We love him to the fullest extent possible and he has a lot going on with him but we are going to stay strong and fight this. Anything that you can do, anyone who you could connect us with will be greatly appreciated. Thank you immensely! You are a beautiful person inside and out. Continue to be blessed.
Sincerely,
Brittany McMullen.
.: 2008 CHOZEN Awards on Wednesday December 10th
Join Only In The A on December 10th, 2008 at the Hammonds House Museum (503 Peeples Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30313) for this cocktail awards reception and fundraiser to assist with the medical expense for Ojore Jevell Bryant and Brittany McMullen.
Special thanks to Blue Boy Media, ATL2nite.com, NABFEME and The Style Suite.
For more information on how you can help, please contact Lenora Bowler at 404.543.7376 or BElenora at gmail.com
If you haven't had a chance to vote, click here to view the official list of 2008 CHOZEN Award Nominees
.: Sponsors
