Fundraiser set for 10-year-old Alex Campbell

Once again the Clark County community is taking up a call to action in support of Vancouver resident Alex Campbell, who turned 10 years old on May 15.

In early November  2013, Alex was diagnosed with diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous malformation caused by hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), which is a genetic condition with no treatment, requiring him to have a double lung transplant.

Several successful fundraising efforts have helped his family defray costs thus far. On June 13,  Liberty Bible Church of the Nazarene will do its part by sponsoring a Father’s Day Friday Car Show.

According to Pastor Larry Rounsley, a wide range of classic cars and motorcycles will be on display. The church will also host a barbecue and a donation bin for Campbell’s family will be set up in the food area. Musical group Fab Five Trophies is scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. Food, door prizes and raffle items are all being donated byl area businesses and car fanatics.

The festivities begin at 4 p.m. and proceeds from the entire day’s events will be donated directly to Alex. Pastor Rounsley said that the hearts of churchgoers were touched by Alex’s spirit and how likeable he is.

Alex’s journey began like a shot out of a cannon. Last November, he was experiencing shortness of breath so his mom, Mandy Campbell, took him to an emergency room in Vancouver. From there he was sent to Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland.

According to Mandy, they ran a multitude of tests and his condition progressed rapidly. He was an in-patient at the Randall Children’s Hospital for a couple of weeks before being transported to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX, on approximately Jan. 21.

Since then, Mandy and Alex have been living within walking distance to the hospital at the Ronald McDonald House, awaiting a double lung transplant for Alex. He’s on oxygen around the clock and, as such, is confined to a wheelchair.

“We go for long walks where I push him in the wheelchair,’’ Mandy said. “We walk to the zoo and different events. He doesn’t feel good so we can’t do a lot - go for walks, watch a movie, stuff like that. I hear the weather gets extremely hot here before too long.”

In Houston, they have no vehicle available to them and Mandy knows that sitting in the house waiting wears on both of them. She shared that on their long walks they talk about everything, but it’s hard for him to catch his breath between sentences. It’s a far cry from the active boy who was on a baseball team, loves football and horses and was going to try out for soccer before his symptoms surfaced. 

Back home in Vancouver, Mandy’s other children miss their mom and brother, but family and close friends are caring for them so that 17-year old daughter Aaliyah and 13-year old son Abel can continue school here. Taylor, Mandy’s 22-year old son, lives in Yakima.

There is no way to know how long Alex’s wait for a donor will be. Once that does happen, however, he’ll recuperate in Houston for an additional three months. Her other children have come to visit a couple of times and she’s hoping there’ll be another visit before too long.

“Alex is extremely strong. He is doing wonderfully, but he is depressed. It’s hard to sit in a wheelchair,’’ Mandy said. “It’s hard not to be able to play or walk. It’s hard to be away from his brother and his sister and his friends.”

To go from a child who was basically healthy, aside from allergies, to a child who received a prognosis where there’s no medication or treatment short of a transplant is something Mandy can put into only one word - devastating.

The head of her household, Mandy is a full-time dental assistant for Creekside Dental and works part-time at CitiFinancial, as well. Both companies are holding onto her jobs for her and “they’ve both been just marvelous and so understanding,” according to Mandy.

She went on to say that the financial responsibilities of basically caring for two households would be very difficult to meet without the fundraisers and all her friends who’ve pulled together.

At a time in their lives when they have no control over a transplant coming tomorrow or a year from now, Mandy and Alex are trusting in the one thing that’s kept them going so far.

“I have asked everyone I know for prayers,’’ Mandy said. “That’s what we’re holding on to. We have our faith and I believe that prayer is really important. I’ve just asked everyone to pray for him and for our family.”

Liberty Bible Church of the Nazarene is located at 12401 NE Salmon Creek Blvd., Vancouver (360) 574-9302.