Phone call finally comes for the Blanchard family - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

By Delivrine Registre - bio | email

June 30, 2008

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - The day Easton Blanchard's family and friends have been waiting for is finally here. "Easton is excited and he has said, ' this is what I'm waiting on,'" said his mother, Heather Blanchard.

"I feel good about it. I'm excited that I am getting my transplant and all that," said Easton Blanchard. Easton first got on the transplant list in November.

And got a call about a possible match in January that fell through. "We've just talked with Easton more and more since than. And the more we've talked to him, the more he's prayed about it and the more he has gotten ready since then," said his mother.

There are two bags and a port attached to Easton's body that is keeping him alive without his small intestines. "He's ready to lose those. He's been insecure about his bags and port, and he's ready to go. He says he is excited that his tattoo is going to be a cross on his belly," said Heather.

And now Easton and his mother will have to stay in Pittsburgh for six months to a year after this transplant. "And I guess that's the hardest part of it, leaving our family and friends here and us being so far away," said Heather.

Those family and friends along with the community are the ones helping fund their time away from home. "Everyone has been pulling together. The more people that hear about Easton, the more they want to help. The more we appreciate it," said Heather Blanchard.

And as they board the plane and say their final farewells, one message floods their hearts. "Thank you, thank you, thank you to everybody," because it is the communities' support that has gotten them to this moment.

Funds are still needed to help pay for their living expenses in Pittsburgh after the transplant. An account has been set up through Philema Road Baptist Church.  Anyone interested in contributing can call 229-886-4241.