HVFD Online - Saving Little Carlie
SAVING A CHILD
Members join effort to help raise funds for young Hyattsville girl in need of a life-saving liver transplant
Although she admits she doesn't know much about Prince George's
County's charity casinos, Karen Hogarth knows one thing they are helping
to save her daughter's life.
Carlie Hogarth was diagnosed just weeks after birth with a
life-threatening liver disease called biliary atresia. Her condition left
her in desperate need of a transplant.
Karen and husband Peter's insurance was to cover the cost of the
transplant, but little else. The cost of such a transplant is a "lifetime
burden," according to Karen. The care doesn't end with the transplant, and
the cost of most of Carlie's post-transplant care and medicine would not
be covered, she said.
The Hogarths were faced with a difficult situation. "Our interest is to
save our daughter's life," Karen said, "But it was going to financially
ruin our family."
That's when the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department stepped in to help.
With charity gaming funds, the fire department presented the Hogarths with
a check for $25,000.
"We were immensely grateful to the fire department that they were willing
to help us so much," Karen said.
The Hyattsville casinos are held Monday and Tuesday nights. Although
traditionally much of profits from blackjack, poker and roulette gaming
are used to buy fire equipment, Hyattsville didn't hesitate to respond to
such a call from the community.
"People usually think of the fire department in a much different way,"
Karen said. "Like we dial 911 and they come help us put out our house
fire."
"We never dreamed they would help us in the way they have."
Hyattsville city Councilman Mike Albertson praises charity gaming for
coming to the Hogarths' rescue. "If it wasn't for the Hyattsville
Volunteers initiating that first step, I think we'd still be getting the
effort off the ground," Albertson said.
Since the initial contribution, the HVFD has raised almost $9,000 more for
Carlie. Volunteers conducted two one-day donation drives at busy
Hyattsville intersections, collecting contributions in their fire boots.
One drive raised $3,500, but the other was held the morning after a major
winter snowstorm.
During that drive, "The snow on the shoulders [of the road] was up to our
knees," Albertson said.
"Drivers passing by must have said `Hey, this must be really important for
all these people to come out in these conditions,'" Albertson said,
"Because we raised $5,000."
The HVFD's contributions sparked other Hyattsville organizations to
action. Local groups and churches held suppers, line dances, plant sales
and bake sales to raise money for Carlie's care. Church youth groups
collected and rolled thousands of pennies to help the effort. Karen's high
school class organized a benefit musical. The widow of a police officer
killed in the line of duty donated contributions made in her husband's
memory to Carlie's cause. Area residents even made their own donations.
"I always knew I lived in a nifty community," said Gloria Felix-Thompson,
chairwoman of COTA for Carlie. "But I have never seen such community
support pouring out."
COTA is the Children's Organ Transplant Association, where a trust was set
up in Carlie's name.
Unfortunately, the Hogarths have not used the money collected for their
daughter. Doctors have yet to find a suitable donor for Carlie.
She has been placed on a national transplant list through Johns Hopkins
Hospital. The Hogarths have twice been called with liver matches, but both
fell through.
"The one time, it was Thanksgiving Day in 1995 and they called to say they
had found one, but they had to cancel it at the last minute," Karen said.
Although Carlie's condition is stable now, the future is very much in
doubt. "Our daughter's condition is day-to-day. Everything could change at
any moment," Karen said. For now, the Hogarths keep watching and waiting.
The impending loss of the county's charity casinos has many people
questioning the future of the resulting charitable donations like those
made for Carlie.
"I don't believe the good of the community and the interest of our society
are being sacrificed when the money is being used to save the life of a
child," Karen said, "As long as the casinos are being operated under the
law."
If it weren't for charity gaming, the HVFD probably wouldn't have had the
proceeds to dedicate the initial money, Albertson said. He also worries
about the future of the county fire departments themselves if charity
gaming were to end.
Albertson praises the HVFD's record of community service. "I would argue
that we have the best fire department in P.G. County. Nobody can beat us.
... There is a big difference between stations that are funded by [charity
gaming] and those that are not.
"But unless the state legislators and county legislators decide to support
activities of the fire department, what you see is what you get,"
Albertson said.
Although Karen contends she isn't aware of all the stipulations about the
way the casinos are run, "if the casinos are open and can help save our
daughter's life, I am grateful forever," she said.
From the COALITION LEDGER, a publication from the Charitable Gaming Association.
For more information on the charity casinos in PG County click here.
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