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Help for Hudson

Family looking for air miles to take their son to his surgery

Carmen George

(Updated: Thursday, February 16, 2012, 2:45 PM)

Nestled next to his mother on the couch with a puppy pressed against his face, four-year-old Hudson Vaughan proudly declares that when he grows up, he's going to be a cowboy.

His father smiles and says that soon they'll have to get him a real cowboy hat.

"Then I'll rope a horse," Hudson says. "That's what cowboys do."

Those words could have been enough to make his parents Dale and Kimberly Vaughan of Mariposa shed some tears on any other day. But not now since Hudson, who has cerebral palsy -- was recently approved for a procedure called a dorsal rhizotomy, spinal surgery that will elevate his muscle disorder.

"When I first heard Hudson was approved for the surgery, I asked the nurse what the outcomes would be," Kimberly said. "She said, 'Well, that depends. Does he want to play soccer or does he want to play baseball?' And I just started balling, I couldn't keep it in. This is a dream come true."

Cerebral palsy has been a confusing condition for his parents to understand, what they've been told derives through the process of delivery. Cerebral palsy is a physical disorder which does not affect a child's intelligence in any way. It is a disease where muscles pull too tightly on the bones, eventually causing deformity.

"We weren't concerned with how Hudson contracted the condition, more about how to research the best care for him and understand the condition better," Dale said.

On April 24, Hudson will receive the best care imaginable, with neurological surgeon T.S. Parks performing his dorsal rhizotomy. Parks is considered the world's most experienced with the procedure, having performed over 2,200 of them with no major complications on children and adults from 46 states and 47 countries.

While Kimberly, who works as a wedding planner, and Dale, who works as a bus mechanic for Yosemite National Park, are grateful that their insurance will pay for the surgery, they need help with airfare to get their little boy to and from his surgery across the country.

Instead of giving money, they are hoping people with extra frequent flyer miles will donate them to an American Airlines account online.

It'll take 100,000 miles (25,000 miles per person) to get Kimberly, Dale, Hudson and their three-year-old son Merrick to and from St. Louis., Mo. where the surgery will be performed.

As of this week, they had 9,000 miles in the account.

"We don't want to ask for money, especially in hard times like these," Kimberly said. "But we know some people travel a lot and have more miles than they'd ever need, so we thought that might be a good way to get out there."

To those that would like to donate miles to the family, go to the American Airlines website aa.com, visit the AAdvantage page and click on the "share" button. Hudson's AAdvantage number is 78JYK66. If someone had 25,000 miles to donate, the equivalent of the one-way ticket, the best way to do so would be to purchase a ticket in one of their names to avoid the transfer fee assessed by American Airlines. For those interested in purchasing a ticket with their miles, contact Kimberly at (209) 966-3890.

The family is hoping they will be able to sleep at the Ronald McDonald house while in St. Louis during the surgery and the nine days of Hudson's recovery, although Kimberly said they won't know if there is space for them until they arrive.

Once those 10 days are through, Hudson will come home to physical therapy and a new world without quarterly Botox injections in his legs to relax his muscles. The dream is he will have the same physical abilities as other children his age, devoid of frequent falling, just in time for kindergarten. Dale said he's also looking forward to taking his boys camping this summer for the first time.

"Hudson could fall a hundred times and he just keeps going and smiling," Kimberly said. "I don't think everyone in life can bump their head and just keep going with a giant smile on their face ...

"His jovial laugh, kind spirit, sincerity and never wavering determination are some of his most amazing attributes. He reminds each of us that with hard work and determination we can all overcome adversity."

"Our family cannot thank friends, family and the community enough for helping us get Hudson to this life changing event," she said. "Prayers, blessings and encouraging words are always welcome."

With a smile, adding, "we will be sure to follow up with his post-surgery article about which sport Hudson has decided on."

Or maybe, what horse he'll be roping soon in the pasture.

The doors are opening wide.