Keyport-Matawan Elks Charity Ball

Each year the Keyport-Matawan Elks Lodge helps a child with special needs and their family by hosting a Charity Ball. The proceeds from this event go to the family to help with the everyday costs. This year we have chosen David, and here is his story.

David’s story starts at 1 month old when his parents noticed that he was not holding his head up.

They took him to his pediatrician for a checkup and found that he was not gaining weight. This is where their lives got complicated. He was given a diagnoses of failure to thrive.

David’s mom Jamie took it upon herself to call early intervention (EI). At 4 months old they had come into our lives and became a second family.

David was not getting stronger at this point and was going to physical therapy, and occupational therapy two days a week of each. During a therapy session David started to stare and was not responding to their voices.

David went to his first specialist, a neurologist and was giving an MRI and an EEG and was diagnosed with focal seizures.

Finally after two years and two different doctors, they found their last doctor who had saved David’s life. This doctor listened to their concerns. She took more action in a week then the others did in two years.

Multiple test were ordered, run and failed before finding out he has silent aspiration where liquids were going into his lungs. This explains why they were in the hospital so many times for RSV and pneumonia.

At this point they were told to stop feeding David and an NG tube was put in but a month later David was admitted back to the hospital for his g tube surgery which he still has.

Today David is 4 years old and weighs 44lbs and is 44 inches tall. Every day is a new day with him.

Our Charity Ball this year will be held on March 9th, from 6PM-10PM at the North Centerville Fire House, 372 Middle Road, Hazlet. Tickets are $50, which include dinner and drinks. There will also be a tricky tray and a super 50/50 at the event. Tickets for the event and for the super 50/50 are available at the lodge on 249 Broadway, Keyport after 5PM each day.

To help with the cost of running the event, they put together an Ad Journal for the event. It is placed at each table for all to see. If you would like to take out an ad or donate an item for the tricky tray, please stop by the lodge and one of the members will be able to help you with it. You can also contact them on Facebook on their page Keyport-Matawan Elks #2030 or by calling 732-264-6742.