After 10 surgeries, 15-year-old Jade Arthur needed one more surgery to erase effects of a hemangioma that disfigured her nose and mouth. A hemangioma is large growth that results in an abnormal amount of blood vessels at the surface of the skin that grow at a rapid rate during the first few years of life.
Jade's family lives on a single income. Gracious donations have poured in for the Arthurs: for travel from Tennessee to New York, hotel accommodations and even the surgery itself, where world-renowned specialist Dr. Milton Waner has agreed to do the procedure free of charge after the original sponsor was affected by the recent Bernard Madoff Ponzi scandal. Jade's family turned to Because I Care to raise funds for the family's transportation and meals during their 11-day stay in New York this month.
“Because of so many generous donors from as far as the UK, we met out goal early and that all donations are being sent to the family,” said Sharon Freeman, founder and president of Because I Care. “Because I Care and the Arthur family sincerely appreciates all the attention that has been given as well as the donations.”
Jade's story was covered in various media outlets, including WZTV Fox 17 and NBC affiliate WSMV-TV in Tennessee, which generated awareness about the case. The family and the foundation would also like to thank the W Hotel in New York where the Arthurs will be staying, the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation for their assistance with the family, and of course Dr. Waner for his participation and willingness to do the surgery for free.
The Because I Care Foundation, Inc., a resource for those born with rare vascular malformations like Jade. More information can be found at http://www.bic-
