Guarded improvement Happy New Year

Eduardo beats odds

Child with Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

(HLH syndrome) survives

I spoke to a representative for the Salazar family yesterday. Eduardo is recovering from a childhood disease called Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis *HLH Syndrome*. Most children are lucky to make it two months with out almost immediate treatment. Eduardo's treatment was slow to come, but he is still with us.

I was very relieved to hear that Eduardo is stable. He may even be doing better. They put him through the ringer in El Hospital General in Durango, Mexico. A good portion of his bowel has been removed in a desperate attempt to stop hemorrhaging. This little 12 year old fought with everything he had. Maybe he will be a soccer star after all!

Family and friends are gathered 'round. Gratitude is huge, a belief and tremendous faith has left the Salazar-Rivera family with their young Eduardo. There is also the issue of herbal medicine. Maria Salazar Rivera is working with the doctors in coordinating traditional herbal medicine with modern pharmaceutical treatments when the Mexican health care system can scare them up.

The Salazars still need your help and support. They are struggling under a tremendous burden of taking care of a very sick child and keeping food on the table for brothers and sisters. If things do not change, some of the brothers and sisters will likely go hungry from time to time. It is part of life in Villa Union where jobs are scarce and the pay is marginal.

We remain disappointed we were unable to attract the attention of the Latino press on this story. The plight of Mexican nationals who live in Mexico is compelling. This is a global world we live in and without each other, we have nothing. Those we help today will likely help us tomorrow. We could not seem to make that case to the Piolin por La Manana group, or to any sponsor for that matter.

One must be grateful for what we have. Tonight, we have Eduardo. It is not enough because this young child of Mexico will need treatment for some time to come. It is not enough because there are a lot of 'Eduardo's' out there who need help. It will never be enough until we can find a way to help those who have been lost and forgotten by a world based upon greed and corruption and power.

Happy new year to all of you who have supported us. Please join our email or hit the site feed and follow us. Don't be afraid to send a donation if you have an extra buck or two. And if you don't, we ask you keep Eduardo in your prayers, just as we keep all who suffer in ours!

Dios te bendiga

Uncle Tim

Subscribe in a reader

Eduardo goes home a hero Ticker Tape Parade!

11 year old boy with rare disease, Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis also known as HLH syndrome, has fought for his life against all odds.

A few days ago they finally wheeled him out of the hospital.

They removed his lower colon and he has a colostomy bag.

During his more than a month in the hospital there were three desperate nights in which the doctors said it would take a miracle if he were with us in the morning. Miracles happen in threes!

His ordeal may not be over. According to a US national specialists, HLH syndrome patients only have 20% chance using the limited drug therapy which was available to a poor family in a poor country. Orphan diseases like hlh are difficult to fight because they are rare and there are not many specialists who study these kinds of childhood illnesses.

Guarded news for Eduardo

Mexico's son is out of the hospital and back in his

childhood home of Villa Union Duranago.

Bien Venido Pelito!

Eduardo, he likes to be called "Pelito", was in the hospital for over a month. He was diagnosed with hlh syndrome, an illness that is nearly always fatal if not treated within 2 months.

Eduardo went through multiple operations trying to stop the hemorrhaging of blood. Eduardo's lower intestine was removed, bit by bit, operation by operation. He now has a colostomy bag in his side. That is a tough nut to crack for an 11 year old.

"How do you feel about being home?"
the questions flowed.



"Fine," Pelito replied.

The smile on his face told the whole story. Eduardo was going home.

Going home was complicated. The people of Villa Union, Durango, Mexico, know all about Eduardo Salazar. They showed up at the Salazar rivera home in throngs. There was a parade of sorts, all for a brave little boy who may be Mexico's next great soccer star.

The brothers and sisters painted Pelito's room. It was the best gift they could give this great brother ! To top it all off, brothers and sisters put a big Bien Vendio sign in Pelitos room to make it look bright.

There were smiles on every face, tios, cunados, vecinos, hermanos y hermanas of course, friends from school...Eduardo was finally home, something they said would not happen.

Eduardo comes from a poor family. With 7 children, Marisela, Maritela, Jain, Miguel Angel, Mariela, and Jaime, it is difficult to give material things to them. Today, Eduardo had about every toy an 11 year old could want! There were more toys than he and all of his brothers and sisters combined had gotten in their lifetimes!

Eduardo was happy to see some of his brothers and sisters play with some of the toys. He is very weak and could not play with most of them!

Then there are plenty of flowers for all of the family to enjoy!

Finally, the line into the Salazar Rivera home was too long. Eduardo was so tired. His wishes were respected and the party went somewhere else.

Mom and dad and the family are thrilled to have their child home. It is as though Dios had given them a miracle. There are big smiles of wonderment, relief, a sense that a light at the end of the tunnel has been seen.

What they don't know is that HLH is like a wolf in the night, waiting to strike it's victim.

The US expert I spoke to said the chances of recuperation with Gama Globulin alone were slim. Eduardo would do better for awhile... and then .... without a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy the blood in Eduardo's system may pull him down again.

Today, we thank God for what we have. All of the neighbors want to thank God, too. Each wants to take Pelito to their own respective churches so they may thank God in their own way for this bundle of miracle in front of them!

Pelito just smiles, but the smile is one of strength and defiance. He has beat the odds, he knows he will pull through and we beleive in him.

The cost of medical care in Mexico is high and there is a question about the quality. We are still seeking donations to bring Eduardo here so he may take

advantage of one of the few clinics in the US.

Short of that, the Salazar Rivera's want him to have the best medical care thy can in Mexico.

Our appeal to Piolin Por La manana and Univivion was a complete flop. Perhaps they have something against me personally. That would be a tragedy, to put personality in front of the well being of a child.

Maybe we did not catch their eye, although I sent the Piolin station manager several notes. These people have immense power, prestige, imagine the number of people who are trying to get something from them for their own personal gain. All we are trying to do is help save Eduardo.

If Eduard Sotelo will not help us perhaps we can appeal to the competition. This remains a compelling story about an innocent boy who wants to be a soccer star and got held up by an ugly illness called HLH Syndrome. This is a story about how a forgotten city in Mexico pulled together to help one of their own.

God bless the Salazar Rivera family. God bless Eduardo Salazar Rivera. God bless all of those who helped him in his fight for life. God bless those few who turned their back, for we are all children of God. God bless you, and if you have a little boy or a little girl who is fighting a potentially fatal disease, God bless your young one. Out thoughts and prayers are with you.

Dios te bendiga,

Uncle Tim

We Almost Lost Eduardo Un Hijo con HLH

Child who went through

hell is still with us!

Eduardo battles a rare childhood disease

Family appeals for help

"We almost lost Eduardo Last Tuesday night. This child is fighting with all his heart, and I am sure, those who have been following this story, Eduardo knows you are with him, too." said Tim Paynter, an attorney in Denver, Colorado.



Paynter was talking about Eduardo Salazar Rivera an11 year old child, who contracted a rare disease which strikes mostly children called HLH syndrome. Fortunately, Eduardo has what is known as SHLH, which means the illness came on after or is secondary to an infection, likely the Epstein Barr virus. Victims of HLH usually die within 2 months after onset without medical treatment.

"You can imagine how the parents must feel!"

"HlH is an illness similar to cancer and more specifically like leukemia, but is neither cancer nor leukemia." said Paynter. "They treat it the same way as cancer and leukemia, they us chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant."



You have to be lucky to get a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy in Mexico according to Paynter. Eduardo comes from a poor family in sleepy Villa Union, Durango, Mexico. The idea of paying for sophisticated treatment costing in excess of $500,000 is not within the means of a humble family.



"You can imagine how the parents must feel", Paynter noted. "What parent does not grieve when he cannot give his child what he needs. It must be very difficult when that which you cannot give means life or death for the child."



Paynter said the would-be soccer star has had a large portion of his intestine removed.n



"They said the entire intestine was removed" Paynter said. "There is a language barrier, so I am not sure if it was the entire intestine or just the entire upper intestine."

"We needed the help of influential people like Univision, like Piolin Por La Manana"

Friends of the Salazar family were optimistic they could bring Eduardo to one of the few clinics that specialize in HLH in the U.S. Erin Kennedy, from Castle Rock Colorado, also a good friend of the Salazar's, was checking out preparations.

"We could not come up with the money to be able to help Eduardo."



"We needed the help of influential people for that, like Univision, Piolin Por La Manana, that kind of clout." Paynter said.

"It is more than just money. We need muscles to help fast tracking immigration, we kneed an aircraft to get Eduardo to the hospital fast. These are the kind of things wealthy media company's have access to."

"If you don't have cash then send something you don't want!"

"We are praying for this child of Mexico." Erin Kennedy said. "God has his plan for Eduardo. We hope it is for this bright child to remain around for awhile.!"

Paynter and Kennedy are accepting donations of cash and of things to be sold on the Internet.

"If you don't have money then send something you don't want anymore and we will sell it on eBay!" Paynter said.

Cash should be sent to
Tim Paynter
Trust account
Attorney at Law
120 South Kalamath St.
Denver, Co., 80223

Gifts should be sent to
Tim Paynter
Attorney at Law
120 South Kalamath St.
Denver, CO., 80223

"We are not trying to save every child's life, although we would like to. We are trying to save Eduardo. Won't you be a part of it?"

Good man Sad Man--News From Eduardo-- Piolin Silent

Well.... Eduardo is responding to therapy with the gamma Globlulin. Great! Hooray!

I emailed a specialist in HLH today. She told me gamma globulin is a reprieve. Without intensive therapy there is little chance. They have room in their clinic, but, alas...it is not free.

We are talking $300,000 to $500,000 to save Eduardo's life.

I cried. Then I prayed.

What is more important, my house, or the life of a little boy? Geeez, life can be so unjust.

The pearl in the conversation is the US specialist does not think the symptoms sound like HLH. Wow, that would be a godsend!

Meanwhile, not a single person has responded to our plea for help. Sure enough, we have not gotten a response from Univision or Piolin, or Eduardo Sotelo, or even one single person we did not already know.

I guess I need to get to know more people!

If you are willing to give, here it is: You can send unwanted but nice items for our internet auction or send bucks.

Please mail your item for our auction for Eduardo or a check to:
Tim Paynter
Attorney at Law
120 South Kalamath St.
Denver, CO., 80223
720.951.1700

When people we know hear about Eduardo they immediately reach into their pockets. We don't even have to ask.

Why is it, the poor people give?

Stay tuned if you like what you read.

Why not check out our ads. It is important to support our sponsors...even if they don't give us money we get a blog.

What I don't understand is, Why doesn't America care about a little boy in a far off place called Durango, Mexico?

Tests Tomorrow--Results Mixed, Response Sad

Eduardo has tests tomorrow to see how his initial treatment has effected the uglyillness that is infecting his body. A more sophisticated program would have given Daniel a lot more treatemnt in order to kill the nastiness that threatens his life.

Our appeal for help has, for the most parts, fallen on deaf ears. Eduardo Sotelo, Bull Hurd, Cu Cui, Univision, HP have all declined to take any real interest in the story of an 11 year old future soccer star with life threatening challenges in front of him. Too bad.

We will have to wait for the next day to find out what is recomended. Meanwhile, the family struggles under the weight of a sick boy while trying to maintin the famiily at the same time. Please keep him in your prayers as the media has not.