Orion's Medical Fund

Thank you for taking the time to be here, at this moment!  My name is Tracy Iler.  This sweet, but very ill little boy, is Orion Mangrum, my best friend's 7 year old son.  Kimberly and Richard noticed Orion became ill mid-October with what seemed to be a flu virus.  After a week of high fevers and then not being able to put weight on his leg, it was discovered he had septic arthritis of his hip joint, and osteomylitis in his femur.    After spending 12 days in the local hospital with 2 MRI's and 2 surgeries, they allowed him to go home and do in-home care.  Being home was such a blessing and comfort, though very expensive as well.  He was on IV antibiotics costing $100 a day, as well as the cost of a home health nurse and therapists.  That, however, only lasted a week, and then his symptoms returned.  He was then taken to UCDavis, CA, where he had another MRI and another surgery. 
He has started to improve.  As daily labs are showing his numbers returning closer to normal, they are planning to send him back home on 11/15/16 to continue his treatments at home.  We are all cautiously optomistic this will be the last hospitalization.

At home,  Orion will continue with 3 months of antibiotic treament.  He currently needs a walker for mobility until he is able to bear weight on his leg.  He will have a Physical Therapist working with him on this goal.
Orion will still need to make trips to UCDavis for appts. with the Infectious Disease Specialist and Orthopedic Surgeon.  He will also be doing Hospital School so he won't get behind.
Orion's mother, Kimberly, is taking a Family Medical Leave from work to care for him and help him with his schooling at home until he can return to school.   This will not pay her the wages she earns when at work, but it does pay a portion.  The peace of mind of getting to care for her baby, though, is priceless.  

The cost of providing this kind of medical care is honestly just plain over-whelming.   The need is immediate and runs deep.  Please do what you can to help Kimberly and Richard provide for their son's medical care, while still needing to provide for their other children they have at home.  They will be using this money to pay the hospitals, the doctors, the home-health nurses and therapists, the pharmacy, and trips back and forth to the UCDavis for the next several months.

Along with the monetary needs, they are also in need of spriritual support.  If you are so inclined, please pray for this amazing family, and this sweet 7 year old little boy who is so ready to move past this.  

Thank you so very much for taking the time to read about the needs of Orion.  Most likely, all of this started from a scraped knee on 10/8 as Orion was just being a playful, happy boy.  Septic arthritis and osteomylitis are very rare.  It is a fluke that his body's natural defenses didn't prevent the infection from setting in.  As we know, life can change in an instant.  I hope you can be part of the village that is needed to help it change back to what it was before.  
Any help you can provide is help that is deeply and sincerely appreciated!

Thank you so much and may your blessing to them be returned to you ten-fold.

Sincerely, Tracy Iler, in honor of the Mangrum Family

PS:  Please post on your page and pass on!  Even strangers are often able and willing to help!  And for those who know this family, please let your friends know that so they will feel comfortable in the legitimacy of this need!  Thanks!!!!