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Topic: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Topic: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Author

Message

Joe McKinley
General User

Member Since: 11/15/2004
Post Count: 483

Status: Offline

Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 1/22/2023 1:09:10 PM

Our fellow Bobcats Lonnie and Shauna McMillan could use this community's support as they face a difficult health situation with their seven-year-old son Caleb. He has been diagnosed with Cerebral Andrenoleukodystrophy (CALD) -- an aggressive form of a genetic disease which affects the adrenal glands, spinal cord and the myelin of the nervous system. It is progressive and, tragically,can result in death.

The good news is that there is a new gene therapy that has shown promising results. It has risks, of course, but it is Caleb's best shot at surviving this challenge. I know almost all of us have experienced difficult health challenges with family members and I know some in my own circle who have faced them with children. It is exhausting and can be expensive. I know, too, that support from others helps families face down these difficulties.

We first got to know Lonnie and Shauna when our son was part of the basketball program. We saw them at both home and road games often. They are fun and kind people and we appreciated their support. Before too long they became parents of Tyler (age 9) and Caleb. As the boys got older, we haven't seen them around nearly as much because of the various academic, scouting and athletic activities in which they participate. It's been fun keeping up with their family via social media. It is a humbling privilege for our family to support them in their time of need.

So what can people in this community do? Lonnie and Shauna have laid this out social media postings. We can offer positive thoughts/prayers that are aligned with our individual values. We can participate in a bone marrow registry which helps some patients. While some of us may not be in a position to do so right now, financial contributions can be made to help offset out of network care, travel expenses to/from the hospital and other family needs due to disrupted work.

With permission from our moderators and the McMillans, I'm posting a link to the Go Fund Me site:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/operation-save-caleb?qid=d68e5...

Thanks for supporting Caleb, Tyler, Shauna and Lonnie in whatever ways you can.

Update article link:

http://www.dailychiefunion.com/featured/mcmillan-family-p...

Last Edited: 1/23/2023 8:34:32 PM by Joe McKinley

mcbin
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 949

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 1/22/2023 1:25:59 PM

Thanks for posting, Joe. Lonnie and Shauna are nice as they come. Hoping for the best for Caleb & the family in this very difficult time.

OhioAlumX2
General User

Member Since: 10/9/2018
Post Count: 19

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 1/22/2023 1:47:29 PM

Thanks for posting Joe. C'mon Bobcats let's show some support. Super easy to chip in via gofundme. We did. Please consider it.

Pete Chouteau
General User

Member Since: 11/17/2004
Location: Nowinsky Country
Post Count: 1,611

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 1/22/2023 2:22:44 PM

Lonnie and Shauna have been mainstays in the Bobcat community and it's been a joy to see their boys growing up while we've all stayed exactly the same. I can't add anything else to Joe's eloquent thoughts.

This diagnosis is a gut punch and I will absolutely be keeping the McMillans in my thoughts.

Bobcat61
General User

Member Since: 5/24/2005
Post Count: 238

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 1/22/2023 10:43:39 PM

Need an address

Joe McKinley
General User

Member Since: 11/15/2004
Post Count: 483

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 1/23/2023 10:51:08 AM

Bobcat61 wrote:

Need an address

Thank you, Bobcat 61. I thought the address was in the GoFundMe notice, but it's not. I'm sorry. Here it is:

McMillan Family Support Fund
Huntington Bank
491 W. Church St.
Upper Sandusky OH 43351

Your kindness and support is appreciated. Glad to be part of this community and connected with folks like you.

Ryan Carey
Site Programmer

Member Since: 11/11/2004
Post Count: 948

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 1/23/2023 9:00:45 PM

Thanks for posting Joe, been meaning to do the same since I saw it on Facebook. Very interesting article on the process of the gene therapy as well.

For those who don't pay much attention, Lonnie has been writing and posting recap stories for the BobcatAttack.com homepage for years, out of the goodness of his heart and love of the 'Cats!

Ryan M. Carey
BBA 2001

OHIO1985
General User

Member Since: 3/3/2005
Location: Hawthorn Woods, IL
Post Count: 62

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 1/24/2023 10:06:38 PM

Done! Thanks for posting!!!

Bob Haldeman
General User

Member Since: 1/1/2005
Location: Parkersburg, WV
Post Count: 149

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 1/25/2023 5:14:43 PM

In. Please do the same.

colobobcat66
General User

Member Since: 9/1/2006
Location: Watching the bobcats run outside my window., CO
Post Count: 4,156

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 1/25/2023 9:06:17 PM

Mailed my donation yesterday. What a heartbreaking story.

lovebobcat
General User

Member Since: 12/23/2004
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Post Count: 505

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 2/1/2023 9:50:59 PM

In. Blessings to this family.

rpbobcat
General User

Member Since: 4/28/2006
Location: Rochelle Park, NJ
Post Count: 3,503

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 2/3/2023 11:23:44 AM

Nice article about this in today's The Post.

Ryan Carey
Site Programmer

Member Since: 11/11/2004
Post Count: 948

Status: Offline

RE: Opportunity to show support for one of our own

Posted: 2/4/2023 12:28:23 PM

https://www.thepostathens.com/article/2023/02/operation-s...

Ryan M. Carey
BBA 2001

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