It is nearly impossible to comprehend extensive mouth sores. Just one at the tip of a tongue or on a lip where a tooth rubs brings most of us to our knees such is the intensity and exquisite nature of the pain. To hold a mouth with five, then seven and finally eleven is beyond our grasping, and yet Evan took it in stride. That stride lost over two pounds of weight, and ate milkshakes as meals for a week, but none the less he was prepared to continue the treatment. It was his doctor, Dr. Blatt, who saw no need to hurt for the sake of hurting. She took him off the medications for a couple of weeks to let his mouth recover, and now has him on a half dose regimen for the foreseeable future.
A quick recount of how you have enriched Evan’s life. Without the insights of a friend, who has since passed away as a result of the ravages of melanoma, Evan would never have connected with Kids Wish Network. Without Kids Wish Network Evan never would have been able to get to LEGOLAND. Without many other readers and friends, he never would have received a near complete collection of ‘Mars Mission’ LEGO pieces that he just displayed to 8,500 other LEGO enthusiasts. Without you, he never would have had the parts to build his mega computer for the science fair. Without Kids Wish he never would have met LEGO Master Model builders or Joe Meno of Brick Journal. Without the compassion, friendship and love of the staff at UNC he would have been hard pressed to keep going down the treatment journey.
It is remarkable at how the web of connections, compassion and love have cradled Evan and his family through these last three years. Evan’s dad went to high school with Evan’s surgeon who in turn was the mentor to Evan’s granddad’s surgeon. Even the garage door repair man’s sister went to school with his mom.
Third hurdle: sitting back is not an option. The hospital is onboard, always looking for ways to enhance patient experience and raise awareness. LEGO world headquarters loves the idea, LEGO responsible for US marketing in a depressed economy where every hospital this side of Hawaii is clamoring for something LEGO is a different nut altogether.
At this point, 6 months into the idea phase and meeting this perpetual resistance was tiring. It was also the time the idea was shared with Nathan Sawaya a LEGO Master Model Builder from NYC, and Steve Witt the LEGO coordinator for the Americas. A combination approach was recommended: build the model for scale (there isn’t a LEGO Jabba figure) and begin a lobbying effort.
The idea was again refined. Why do this at just one hospital. There are many hospitals and many patients who would benefit from the project across the US if not the world. Secondly, LEGO can be heated to sterilization temperatures so that even patients in isolation can participate in building. It can be used as a fundraising and awareness event for cancer projects across the country. Bricks could be bought by corporations for publicity and donations. LEGOs can be acquired for pediatric units across the world.
Hurdle Four: The present. To build a scale model of ‘Jabba’, Evan needs ~5,000 bricks to make a model 2 feet tall and 5 feet long. It needs to be built in the next 60 days, transported to Washington DC for Early August and will cost (at $.30/brick)$1,500 to build.
We will be mounting an email campaign directed toward LEGO management in Connecticut that will start around August 1. If you would like monetarily help with this project, if you feel this is a worthwhile endeavor, any donation, small or large, would be appreciated. Please send donations payable to: EVAN’s FUND to 2664 TIMBER DR - STE 198, GARNER, NC 27529.
The Welcome Banner
Evan's Table
Joe Meno admiring fellow adult fans of LEGO
Evan answers questions