Community Corner
Joliet GoFundMe: Help Baby Owen Buell's Family
Owen is now terrified of strangers because he associates them with being hurt while in the hospital, a family friend posted on GoFundMe.
JOLIET, IL —The family of Valerie Mitchell and Brian Buell continue to seek the community's help as they provide additional medical treatment for their 17-month-old son, Owen.
"Owen has neuroblastoma that has affected other parts of his body. He was treated by a local pediatrician for the past several months. When Valerie took him to the doctor she never ordered any tests that could have caught this earlier. She treated him for viruses, then the flu, then viruses and then the flu again," reads the GoFundMe that has been organized on behalf of the Joliet family called, "Help for Baby Owen Buell and his Family."
As of Tuesday, this month's GoFundMe had already raised $11,255, which is still short of reaching its fund-raising goal of $15,000. Nearly 200 people have made a donation to the help the local family during their time of need.
Find out what's happening in Jolietfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A friend of the family who established the GoFundMe wanted everyone to know that Owen's mother and father are doing all their can. Owen also has two older siblings, ages 4 and 7.
"They live modestly and this loss of income is devastating for them. They have no credit cards, they pay as they go. They have a family van which they share. They drive to Chicago to the Childrens hospital and keeping the gas tank full and parking in downtown Chicago at the hospital parking garage is $15 a day.This family needs help. They have a support network of family and friends to help but there is so much more they are going to be facing," the GoFundMe states.
Find out what's happening in Jolietfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In recent days, the family friend provided an update on the GoFundMe account, informing followers that Owen's family recently had a new set of family photographs taken.
"Little Owen is still home. Round 2 of his chemotherapy is scheduled and he must go back in the hospital for 5 days. Although he is home and he smiles a little because he can be with his brothers, he is in extreme pain and takes medication that eases it a bit," the update reads.
If you would like help, visit the GoFundMe site called Help for Baby Owen Buell and his Family.
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