SPRINGDALE, Ark. — On May 2, the Arkansas Children’s Northwest Auxiliary, a volunteer organization that helps support patients and families though fundraising and service projects, is hosting “A la Carte,” a fundraising event for the hospital.
Attendees will be able to try all kinds of food and drinks from local restaurants, while helping to support the expansion of Arkansas Children’s Northwest.
One Muldrow family tells us the story of their experience at Arkansas Children's saying they could not have taken their son to a better hospital.
Four years ago, Zach and Alicia Henshall of Muldrow, Oklahoma were blindsided when their son Beau was diagnosed with a rare, yet serious disease called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.
They said Beau contracted the disease after being infected with E. Coli.
“It was horrible, and scary for everybody,” Alicia said. "I'm not bitter or angry towards it all, because so many beautiful things have come from it.”
The family spent two days at Arkansas Children’s Northwest Hospital before doctors told the family Beau had to be transported to Arkansas Children’s in Little Rock.
“When I asked the question ‘what's going on?’, they just told me that he would not survive an ambulance ride from here to there, so a helicopter was on the way,” Zach said.
Over the next six weeks, Beau was placed on dialysis for his failing kidneys and had surgery to remove 75% of his colon.
An active kid who loves basketball and baseball, was now forced to recover in the hospital. But according to Beau, not all of it was bad. Beau was known to make jokes, and at times, play a trick or two on the doctors.
“I got an electric piece of gum and when I said ‘Do you want some?’ he pulled it and it shocked him,” Beau said.
Those same doctors at Arkansas Children’s were also the ones who gave the family much needed hope during the dark time.
“I absolutely can’t imagine doing all of this without the doctors that have walked us through this,” Alicia said. “I'm gonna cry just thinking about a few of them.”
Nearly four years later, Beau’s recovery is nothing short of a miracle. Other than yearly check-ups and a careful diet, the family said he is completely off the medication that kept him alive.
Now, the family is using this experience to help others. .
“I've been able to go and preach and tell our story and connect with people,” Zach said. “Alicia has written numerous things that have had a significant impact on people. We’ll do our due diligence to make sure that our story is told and that people know that it's gonna be okay.”
The Henshalls added that although they were extremely pleased with their time in Little Rock, they are excited to see the growth happening at Arkansas Children’s Northwest hospital.
“There are so many people in our area of Oklahoma, and even Arkansas, that maybe aren't comfortable with going all the way to Little Rock to treat their child. So I think that having upgrades and all of these things in Springdale will be a lot more comforting,” Alicia said.
Beau also had some advice of his own, to those going through a similar situation.
“Don’t be scared of the doctors and nurses, it's going to be okay,” Beau said.
The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Ledger in Downtown Bentonville. Tickets for this event are still available. For tickets, click here.
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