Welcome to T.E.A.M. 4 Travis. We’re glad you decided to check out our updated website and learn more about Isolated Congenital Asplenia. Here you will find information about ICA, ways to support the cause and the knowledge that you are not alone.
As Travis’ Momma and the founder of T.E.A.M. for Travis, I thought you might wonder, what makes a person start a nonprofit to fight a rare childhood disease that precious few people have even heard of? For me, it was linked to grief following the loss of my 4-year-old son, Travis, to Isolated Congenital Asplenia. How could I not do everything possible to prevent another family from grieving their child? How could I have this terrible knowledge of this rare but often fatal disease, and not take action?
From Grief Comes Hope
Grief makes you do strange or crazy things, and I guess compound grief ratchets up the degree of strange or crazy you’re willing to consider. My compound grief came from multiple deaths over six years: our premature twins Dalton and Shelby in 2012, my dad and our Great Dane Ike in 2015 and my husband Jamie and Great Dane/Black Lab mix Abby in 2018.
After Abby’s death three days before Jamie’s funeral, I thought “I hate to see what 2021 brings, because these deaths have happened every three years.” It was beyond comprehension that the next tragedy would not be three years in the future. The next tragedy would strike 5 months to the day that Jamie died of colorectal cancer, and it would steal my only living child, the seemingly healthy and robust Travis.
Read When It’s More Than Just a Flu
In some ways, I think the decision to start a nonprofit was also linked to hope. Hope that Travis’ death wouldn’t be in vain. Hope that his oversized personality and joyful love of life, his legacy would somehow help save other children born without spleens. Hope that at some point in the future, another parent could look to Travis’ story and T.E.A.M. 4 Travis’ work as the reason their child was able to survive Isolated Congenital Asplenia.
It Takes A Village To Raise A Child
T.E.A.M. 4 Travis’ mission is to raise awareness about Isolated Congenital Asplenia through education, research and a strong community. Our vision is to stop ICA from taking another child’s life. But we can’t do it alone. Please consider making a donation or helping spread Travis love.
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