My name is Suzanne King. My husband Timothy and I are proud parents of a brave, beautiful little boy named Tanner. Tanner is 4 years old and at the age of 2 was diagnosed with CIPO (Chronic Intestinal Psuedo Obstruction). For anyone who is unfamiliar with this medical diagnosis, it basically means that Tanner's entire GI system doesn’t work. He has no function in his large intestine and very little motility in his stomach and small intestine. As an infant Tanner wasn't a great eater. I nursed him for 6 months and then bottle fed until he was a year. During that time he vomited a lot and was often very constipated. When he did try to go he was in excruciating pain.  His pediatrician at the time assured me that it was normal and that some babies just don't go to the bathroom a lot. As time went on and Tanner got older he wouldn't eat hardly any baby food or table food. It was rare for him to eat and the vomiting continued along with him becoming extremely distended.

We finally at the age of 2 were able to get Tanner to see a GI doctor, named Dr. Beg. This doctor is one of the best I have ever met. He truly is a wonderful person and as well as being a wonderful doctor. He totally put Tanner first and really listened to us when we told him that we thought Tanners' situation was not just a case of "simple constipation".

With the help of Dr. Beg we were referred to a Pediatric Surgeon named Dr. Michael Ratner. He too is an amazing, incredible doctor who I respect to the fullest. Dr. Ratner placed a feeding tube in Tanner. That was just the first of about 32 surgical procedures Tanner would face in the year and a half following.  From there, we were sent to Boston Floating Children's hospital where Tanner underwent many tests.  There it was confirmed that he has CIPO. He had neuropathy throughout his GI tract. The nerves just weren't functioning.

One of the next surgeries Tanner had gone through was a placement of a Ileostomy. The idea behind this was to release some of the pressure in the intestines. Although this has made a significant difference it has not cured Tanner. Our family also had to travel back and forth to Boston, Mass. for additional motility studies as well as Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital for a Transplant Evaluation.

During this entire time my husband was missing many, many hours at work. Mostly time he needed to take off due to Tanner having surgeries. It seemed like he had a surgery every month or every other at least. Most of them were due to line infections with his Hickman Catheter. I heard about Charity for Children through a friend and inquired about it. I was so blessed to have been able to talk and meet with Nina Albino. She truly is an angel that has come into my life. This organization that she is so dedicated to has made it possible for my family to go to Boston as well as Pittsburgh. Without this charity we would have never financially been able to make it there and there could have been serious consequences that followed, ones that I wouldn't want to even think about.  Charity for Children I really believed has saved my life as well as Tanners. I will be forever grateful to them and all they have done. There were times I didn't even have any groceries in the house and no money. I have 4 other children as well to take care of. The charity even bought me groceries.

As far as the Executive Director, Nina, she is just an amazing woman. She has the heart like no one I have ever known. Her commitment and dedication to these children like Tanner goes beyond any job. My eyes fill up when I think of what she means to me and my family. I only hope that one day I can repay this organization even in some small part for all they have done for me. I encourage any family that has a sick child to please contact her. If for nothing else support emotionally. Everyone needs to spread the word about Charity for Children. Encourage everyone out there that the littlest donation can make a difference in a child's life. My family was truly in a hole I never thought we could get out of and without this organization we wouldn't have. There are so many sick children out there. Everyone needs to come together as a community, family, parent or even friends and do something to help these children. Children are so special, I tell mine that every day and night. They are truly a gift from god. No child should go without medical help due to parents income or insurance issues.

Most importantly if there is anyone out there who needs another parents support or insight on their child if they are sick and going through some a similar situation please feel free to contact me, Suzanne King  stkm192@yahoo.com

Life is too short to waste; we need to help these innocent children now. Tanner is now on the UNOS list for an intestinal transplant as well as stomach and possibly liver.  I pray we have a donor soon. Every night before I tuck my son Tanner into bed I tell him how much I love him and he responds to me with the same question every night, "Mommy I am special right?" I say, "Yes my boy more than you'll ever know!"