Schools, children raise money for boy's liver transplant

Schools, children raise money for boy's liver transplant

By Sidney Levesque / Reporter-News Staff Writer
October 5, 2005

With big blue eyes, chubby cheeks and an adorable grin, few would guess that little Canon Perkins suffers from a rare, deadly disease.

Nineteen-month-old Canon, who lives in Amarillo, has glycogen storage disease. It causes glycogen, a form of sugar, to build up in the body. Ultimately, it leads to liver failure and death in early childhood.

There is hope for Canon - a liver transplant.

Charles Perkins holds his grandson, Canon Perkins, during a surprise visit to Fannin Elementary.

Fund-raisers to help pay for his transplant are popping up everywhere, including in Abilene. Canon's parents attended school here, and his grandparents work for the Abilene Independent School District.

The boy's family is trying to raise $350,000 to pay for his liver transplant, which will cost around $600,000. Insurance should cover the rest.

However, doctors have told the family that if complications arise, the cost could reach as high as $1 million.

To help the Perkins family, their schools and church in Amarillo set up an account for Canon through the Children's Organ Transplant Association. Numerous fund-raisers are taking place.

In Abilene, schools are pitching in by selling $2 bracelets, hosting garage sales and a silent auction and collecting aluminum cans. A benefit golf tournament for Canon is Saturday in Hawley.

Nearly every day, someone offers to help raise money for Canon, said his grandfather, Charles Perkins.

''There's been a lot of good things going on,'' said Perkins, an AISD assistant superintendent.

His wife, Linda Perkins, is a teacher. Their son, Drew, graduated from Abilene High School. Drew met his wife, Chandra Morrow, at Abilene Christian University (they are 1999 graduates).

The couple now lives in Amarillo, where Drew Perkins, 28, is a middle school assistant principal. Chandra Perkins, 27, is a teacher.

The family learned something was wrong with Canon when he was 9 months old. He was not crawling and could not bear any weight on his legs, according to Chandra Perkins' online journal.

The boy's pediatrician noticed his liver and spleen were enlarged. Further tests confirmed Canon had glycogen storage disease, Type 4. The disease is genetic, which caused concern for the family when his baby brother, Creed, was born two months ago.

Chandra Perkins said she learned Tuesday that test results for Creed came back negative for the disease. ''We are breathing a huge sigh of relief,'' she said.

She and her husband have already lost one child. A daughter born premature in 2001 died after 22 days. The family does not know if she suffered from the same disease as Canon.

For now, they are focusing on getting Canon on a waiting list for a liver transplant that will take place at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. The family is grateful for all the prayers and money people have given Canon.

''I would say 80 percent of the support he's gotten has been from people we don't know,'' Chandra Perkins said. ''We just believe that it's all going to work out and are amazed by the support and encouragement we've gotten so far.''

How to help Canon

· Green rubber bracelets for $2 are available at some Abilene Independent School District campuses and at the AISD Administration Building, 842 N. Mockingbird Lane. The money benefits Canon Perkins and the Children's Organ Transplant Association.

· Mail tax-deductible donations to the transplant association, 2501 COTA Drive, Bloomington, Ind., 47403. Checks or money orders should be made payable to ''COTA for Canon P.'' Secure credit card donations can be made online at www.cota.org.

· Fannin Elementary, 2726 N. 18th St., is collecting aluminum ''Cans for Canon.''

· Lincoln Middle School, 1699 S. 1st St., is having a garage sale from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday in the boys gym.

· ''Shoot for Canon'' benefit golf scramble, 8 a.m. Saturday, Tangle Oaks Golf Club in Hawley. Carts, balls and lunch, plus various prizes, will be available for $50 per person. Only the first 20 teams can be accepted. For more information, call 677-9360.

· Canon's Web site: www.canon.webhop.org

Contact Sidney Levesque at levesques@reporternews.com or 676-6721

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