Members of Fenton's Freedom Center open their hearts to help family of ailing tot

by Theresa Roach | The Grand Blanc News

GRAND BLANC, Michigan -- One-year-old Elijah Palmer was born with half a heart, but the final stage in a series of surgeries could give the toddler a chance to live a normal life.

On Aug. 6, Becky and Jason Palmer of Highland will take their youngest son to C.S. Mott Children's Hospital for his third and final open heart surgery to repair hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a disorder in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped.

The Palmers and their older children -- Travis, 4 and Hannah, 6 -- will stay at the hospital for at least one month while Elijah recovers from surgery.

Meanwhile, a group of church friends will host a garage sale and bake sale from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at 8229 Peninsula Circle in Hidden Ponds subdivision in Grand Blanc to help the family cover expenses while they take time to focus on the child's recovery.

"Jason won't be able to work while Elijah is recovering and (Elijah's health) already (has) been a strain on them financially," said Alise McAleer, whose will host the sale at her home.

"They've only been married a few years," McAleer said of the Palmers. "They have three young kids. It (has taken) a toll on their family."

Elijah's body does not receive proper oxygen flow, which causes breathing problems, a bluish tint to his fingernails, toenails and skin, developmental delays and difficulty in developing strong muscles. Just one week before his second birthday, he finally is walking.

This final surgery would give Elijah normal blood flow and help ease many of his health troubles, said Becky Palmer.

Medical costs are covered by health insurance, but Jason Palmer, the family's sole provider as a manager at a Wendy's restaurant, does not qualify for paid time off from work for a year. He must work during Elijah's recovery or take the time off without pay.

McAleer and other church members of Fenton's Freedom Center want Jason Palmer to be with his family.

"It's phenomenal," Becky Palmer said. "When you don't know what you're going to do and someone suggests something like what the girls are doing, it's just phenomenal. When they said they'd do this, I started crying. ... It's hard. We went from two incomes to one," said Becky Palmer, who quit her job when Elijah was born.

"Jason was thinking about working, but now with this, I will have the support of my husband and Elijah will have the support of his daddy."

Docs eye paternity leave

Public-sector doctors are asking for a three- day paternity leave to bolster low staff morale.
"There simply aren't enough hours in a day for me to fulfill my work and family roles," said Queen Mary Hospital doctor of international medicine Pierre Chan.

During a week of 30-hour shifts and regular 12-hour work days, he has only been able to spend an hour and a half with his one-year- old daughter each time they have met.

"Our family is socially and psychologically unhealthy," said Chan's wife and family doctor Eunice Chan Yin-chiu.

When she was seven months' pregnant she quit the public sector fearing job-related stress would affect her pregnancy.

Although her husband stayed in the public sector, she accepted a pay cut to enter the private sector to have more time with their child.

According to surgeon Kelvin Ng Kwok- chai, Chan's departure to the private sector is a familiar story as more doctors are switching over to get better hours and a more balanced work life.

"The problem is some doctors are also fathers, and they have to play their family roles as parents - of course they do their best to serve patients but they don't have time to take care of their family life," Hong Kong Public Doctors' Association vice president Ho Pak- leung said.

With colleagues working more than 70 hours a week or 33 hours more than their contract stipulates, Ho said introducing paternity leave would not only help doctors balance work and home life but also be an important olive branch and first step in upcoming negotiations between public-sector doctors and the Hospital Authority.

He said unless services are redefined and a hybrid public/private solution found, manpower shortages will continue to wreak havoc on job satisfaction and morale among public sector health-care workers.

"Wives need the support and care of their husbands," Federation of Trade Union lawmaker Wong Kwok-hing said during an FTU and Men's Concern Group march in Central yesterday - Fathers' Day.

He said offering leave to fathers would improve workplace morale and help divide child- rearing responsibilities between parents.

An authority spokeswoman said it will consider initiatives to boost morale.

Standard Chartered, HSBC and Lehman Brothers offer five days' paternity leave, while China Light and Gas offers three. Australia and New Zealand offer unpaid paternity leave to workers, and two weeks of paid leave is provided in Britain and France through social insurance.

Community benefit helps special 4-year-old

By: News 8 Austin Staff
The Austin community held a benefit Saturday to help with the high costs of one special little boy's medical bills.

The Joshua Jam Benefit Concert and Silent Auction was held Saturday at Dave & Buster's.

Joshua Edmondson is an excited little boy who enjoys being a 4-year-old. Playing the drums and arcade games are just some of the things he loves.

But Joshua is more than your everyday child. He's one in a million, literally: Joshua has a rare bone disease that affects one in a million kids.

"He's just strong, very strong," Joshua's mother, Michelle Edmondson, said. "He knows if we go to the hospital he's going to get shots and he says, 'Well, it makes me sad that I'm going to get shots, but I know I'm going to get better.' He's strong."

Joshua must get treatment from a specialist not covered by his insurance.

All of the proceeds of Saturday's benefit will go to Joshua and his family for his care and expenses.