Dad with Marfan has heart condition
Caring
of the Austin AmericanStatesman’s Season for Caring program, which helps 12 featured families and hundreds of other families like them through area nonprofit agencies.
As of Wednesday, Season for Caring has raised more than $153,000 this year in monetary donations. Many individuals and businesses also have reached out by donating goods and services.
One of the reasons the Farrells wanted to be part of Season for Caring was for people to know about Marfan syndrome. That’s also what motivated Aubrey to talk to her class.
More than 50,000 people in the United States are believed to have the disorder that affects several organs, including the eyes, cardiovascular system and skeletal system.
Austinite Michelle Carlson and her family know what it’s like to have to explain why you are so tall. Carlson, who’s 6-foot-3, her 17-year-old son, who’s 6-foot-7, and her 19-year-old daughter, who’s 6-foot-2, have Marfan. Carlson started her pajama business Long Night’s Sleep when she was having to sew pajamas to fit her kids. She is giving Aubrey a pair of sock monkey pajamas that will fit her frame.
A tailor also has agreed to alter any clothes Aubrey receives. Aubrey wears a girl’s size 16 for the length but the waist has to be taken in to not fall off her thin frame.
One of the family’s biggest concerns was their mounting medical bills for both Tim Farrell and Aubrey. A financial planner, who wants to be anonymous, will soon be helping them.
Aubrey still needs bedroom furniture.
She needs help from a professional math tutor or a tutoring center. She also would like piano lessons. The family would love to take a vacation.
They need a telephone land line for a monitoring service that checks Tim Farrell’s heart defibrillator. He also cannot drive to work and needs taxi vouchers.
To find out more about the Farrell family or to donate an item on their wish list, contact Wonders & Worries at 329-5757 or www.wondersandworries.org.