Quinten Atutis - National Spelling Bee Trip

Hi, everyone!

 

By now most of you know that Quinten has advanced far enough in the local and regional spelling bees to earn his spot to travel to Washington D.C. and compete in the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee on June 1st, and we are over the moon excited! This is Quinten's last year (8th grade) to participate in the Spelling Bee so we are working as hard as possible to be prepared for him to place well in D.C.

 

The Regional Office has awarded Quinten with some travel expenses for the event, but most of the trip and fees we need to come up with. Of course this would come at the same time he has racked up thousands in medical invoices as well so we really need your help!

For those who don't know... Quinten started showing signs of something being wrong in his legs back in August 2021, after more than 30 appointments,  hospital visits, countless tests (including 7 MRIs) he has so far been diagnosed with CRMO, they also suspect CRPS. The last series of MRIs on 2/8 showed a worsening of his disease, as well as some new lesions and bone marrow edema. His team of doctors are concerned that either the CRMO is in other areas that we don't know about yet (his spine is of the largest concern) or he may have a disease even more ominous than CRMO (hard to believe, since that is less than a one in a million shot). Since August he has gone from being a super athletic and active young man to being in a walking boot, double walking boot, walking boot and crutches, wheelchair, wheelchair with casts, walking boot and crutches, crutches, cane, to now being restricted to anything other than walking...with the wheelchair option looming over us once again. He had to drop out of football, couldn't sign up for basketball and now (the worst case scenario for him, which he doesn't even know yet) baseball is out too. .. :( He is scheduled for a full body MRI on March 3rd and that, coupled with the 8 tests he had completed today, will give us more answers and let us know what treatment he will need. Needless to say, this has been one heck of a road, but he has really been doing his best and staying more positive than any adult I know would. Staying awake is hard for him right now, but this spelling thing has given him something to look forward to and while it can't replace sports for him in his heart, it is doing a good job of it now for his mind....which is just as important <3

 

This means so much to Quinten, he's been going through a lot recently and this is just the thing he needs to motivate, excite and encourage him to keep moving forward. Life is all about that forward motion, but he's been so stuck since his legs started affecting him in August. This is a whole lot more than just a spelling bee to him and he's committed to working hard and giving this the best shot he can. We know we are up against some incredible spellers from inspiring backgrounds, but Q is ready to make his mark amongst them and represent this region well!

 

Thank you, each and every one of you!

*For all donations over $50, Quinten will send you a handwritten postcard from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Mill, MD - home of the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee!