Putting Others Before Himself

SEELEY LAKE – Kindergartner Jesse Wink is putting others before himself this summer. He is raising funds for the Seattle Children's Hospital to help children who are dealing with Chiari Malformation, a condition where the brain grows into the spine. Jesse himself was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation before he was two years old. He wants to ensure other children have the same care he had during his treatment.

When Jesse was a year and a half, he fell off a bunk bed and gave himself a concussion.

"It was a blessing in disguise. We found out through an x-ray that he had Chiari Malformation," said Jesse's mother Elizabeth.

The family was given two opinions: surgery or do nothing. Surgery required limitations to his activity so he wouldn't be able to play contact sports. Not having the surgery could result in paralysis later in life. Two months before his second birthday Jesse had surgery to fix the malformation.

Jesse asked his mother if other children with his condition received the level of care he did. Elizabeth told him that when he had his surgery they signed papers with the Chiari Research Center and turned over what came out of the surgery for their research purposes. In turn, the research center helped pay for the surgery.

Jesse decided he wanted to make a donation to the Seattle Children's Hospital to help other children with his condition. He decided to raise money throughout the summer.

Jesse and his brothers Dominic and Payton colored cans that will be out at Cory's Valley Market and one at Clearwater Towing. He is also selling purple Chiari ribbons for $2 and will be holding a bake sale at Cory's this summer. Checks can also be made out to Jesse Wink and deposited at TrailWest Bank in Bonner at the intersection of Highway 200 and Interstate 90.

Instead of presents on his sixth birthday Aug. 29 Jesse is asking people to make a donation to help other kids.

"I want to help other children to get better like me," said Jesse

So far Jesse has raised $22. He will end his fundraising Aug. 25 so he can present his Neurologist Dr. Richard Ellenbogen with a check at his appointment Aug. 28. All of the money he raises will be donated to the hospital.

Jesse said, "If I help raise money [to help other children get treatment], then maybe the kids can play like I can now."

 

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