By By MaryClaire Foster
When local businessman Harold Allen saw the story about a benefit for Hadyn Brake in the newspaper, he thought back to 18 years ago when he himself was waiting to get a kidney.
Brake is an almost 11-month-old girl whom after birth was diagnosed with congenital nephrotic syndrome, forcing her to have both kidneys removed and her to begin undergoing dialysis for 12 hours daily.
This in turn has created an enormous amount of stress for her family, not only emotionally, but financially, a stress that Allen thought he could help with. Through his business, Harold Allen Mobile Homes, Allen made a $1,000 donation to the family.
Allen was in need of a kidney transplant due to complications with diabetes and received one from his son, Mike, in January of 1991.
Allen said he wants his contribution to bring more attention to Hadyn’s family’s situation, so that the community will reach out even more to them.
Besides the expenses incurred from travel for the medical treatment, there are also the medical bills. Amanda Giveans, Hadyn’s mom, said the doctors told her to expect to pay about 20 percent of the bills, which could amount to $1 million, leaving them to pay $200,000.
Giveans’ said at this point the doctors said to raise what they can and the rest would be figured out and said Allen reaching out to them means a lot.
Giveans’ mom said Allen’s generosity along with his being able to empathize was very comforting to them.
Donations for Hadyn can be made at any area BankTrust location.