Concert to help Boykins family
Published 11:52 am Saturday, July 19, 2014
BOYKINS—The Hungry Rooster on Main Street in Boykins is hosting a concert this Saturday, and the profits will be dedicated to helping an employee and her husband with expenses related to one of their children’s medical condition.
Hannah Coard, the daughter of Sandy and Eric Coard, has ulcerative colitis.
“It’s an autoimmune disease, kind of like Crohn’s Disease, but only in the colon. She has ulcers in her colon,” said Sandy.
Most recently, Hannah, 12, experienced her third bout in the past four years. The flareups can include severe stomach pains, chronic diarrhea, fatigue and blood loss.
Before doctors determined the cause, “Irritable Bowel Syndrome was the first diagnosis,” said Sandy.
“This is kind of an unknown disease.”
She was told that UC can be hereditary, but neither the immediate family — including daughters Erica and Kimberly — nor anyone else in their families has anything like it.
Meanwhile, Hannah is “doing very well and responding to a Remicade infusion,” and will be getting regular treatments for the rest of the summer.
Sandy added that she and Eric are “doing very well. He’s extremely scared and worried about her. He’s concerned about the medications, but those are our only options.”
To help the Coards after Hannah’s most recent episode, Denise and Randy Bynum decided to organize the fundraiser.
John Carter has been invited to perform in the restaurant’s lounge and the cover is $5, which Denise said would “go straight to the Coards. Even people not able to attend have started sending in donations to help with medical expenses.
“We’re expecting a big crowd and, hopefully, this will help some,” she added.
When approached with the idea about the benefit, Sandy said she and Eric were quite hesitant.
“Originally, we said ‘No, don’t do that,’” she said.
But their opinion changed when they realized the willingness of folks wanting to help.
“We’re just in absolute awe of the people who have shown such support,” Sandy said.
For more information about the concert, call 743-8170.