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Team Logan raising funds to help family defray expenses for heart transplant Team Logan raising funds to help family defray expenses for heart transplant
August 6th, 2010 5:26 pm CT
By Leslie Chaffin, Wichita Charity Examiner
You wouldn't know to look at the photos on the TEAM LOGAN Facebook page that Logan Xanders recently went through a heart transplant. Now 14 years old and getting ready to start as a Freshman at Derby High School, Logan was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy when he was six weeks old.
"Logan's body was the signal that it was time to look for a heart," said his father, Roger Xanders. "It took him to 14 years old and then he became quite sick in March this year. He was listed for a heart on June 18, a donor was found June 23 and the transplant was on June 24."
Dilated Cardiomyopathy is an enlarged heart and throughout his life, Logan has lived with certain activity restrictions, including not being able to play baseball which he loves. It has meant trips to Denver Children's Hospital and for his most recent medical needs and the transplant, St. Louis Children's Hospital. Throughout, Logan has maintained a positive attitude. According to Roger, everyone pulling together has really brought out the caring side in younger brothers Hunter (8) and Garret (12). You can tell in his voice that he is very proud of his sons.
"The day of Logan's transplant, there was a younger boy there named Ethan, who was also going into surgery," Roger said. "Logan befriended him and took on kind of a big brother role, and told him that he could do it."
The Xanders know that it was a blessing that a donor heart was found so quickly for their son. Roger noted that the day of Logan's operation was also Roger's father's birthday. Roger, Sr. passed away in 2000 from cancer.
"Facebook really helped us get information out on Logan's progress so that his friends and our family could keep up on his condition," said Roger. "We sent out updates almost every half hour during the surgery and could see comments coming in at 3 a.m. That let us know people were out there with us."
Roger said they were fortunate to be able, for the two weeks following the heart transplant, to stay in an apartment at the Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis. It allowed the family privacy and friends could come to visit. Yet, they had the support of the staff at Ronald McDonald House if they needed it.
"Logan was listening to his heart every day through the stethoscope," said Roger. "The staff at St. Louis Children's Hospital gave him a stethoscope to take home. While he doesn't listen every day now, it's still a wonder to have a heart that works like it should."
Logan is excited that everything is going as it should with his new heart, and that the doctors both Dr. Canter in St. Louis and Dr. Simon in Kansas City, are very happy about the progress since the transplant. A recent trip to Kansas City this week for a biopsy and heart cath turned into a doctor's appointment when two emergencies at the hospital derailed the original appointment. The good news was that Logan can now go swimming.
Doctor visits will be long distance to Kansas City for the next few months, then eventually, Logan will be able to see his pediatric cardiologist in Wichita. Trips to KC will be monthly at least to the end of this year. He will also be on immuno-suppressant medications the rest of his life, but it seems a small effort to be able to look forward to more activities and to living.
What people often don't think about is that there are many expenses beyond the medical ones when a family faces a serious illness. Facebook has also been helpful for the TEAM LOGAN group of supporters to let people know about fund raising to help the family. From Team Logan bracelets to an upcoming golf tournament August 22, supporters have been able to see the different ways they can help this remarkable young man and his family. The Derby community has also jumped in to help, most recently, with Gage Chiropractic Center donating its profits on July 27 to the Team Logan fund.
When talking with the Xanders, they don't say much about the costs, what they're thankful for is that Logan is getting stronger every day. "We'll always worry," said Roger. "But that's part of what parents do when it comes to their kids." You can also count on them encouraging you to become an organ donor and sign the back of your driver's license. "Without a donor, Logan would not be able to face a future," added Roger. "And for that we are most thankful."
To find out more about Team Logan and how you can help, email teamloganx@yahoo.com. Team Logan bracelets are $5 and the upcoming Team Logan Golf Fund Raiser at Derby Golf & Country Club is $70 per person or $280 a team. All proceeds and 100% of the green fees will go to the Team Logan Fund.
