Oswego Fundraiser for Little Boy with Neurological Disorder

OSWEGO, IL — When he was four months old, little Kycen was misdiagnosed with having infantile spasms.

At nine months, his parents went back to a neurologist after noticing changes in his symptoms that didn’t match with his original diagnosis.

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That’s when Kycen was found to have OMS, or Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome, an inflammatory neurological disorder that means his immune system is fighting with his brain.

"This is often accompanied by neuroblastoma. He currently has a mass between his kidney and his spine that is under evaluation to see if it is in fact neuroblastoma," according to a Facebook page. "While it's possible that he may be wheelchair bound, with treatment, it is also possible for children with his conditions to improve and catch up to normal average motor skills of other kids by the age of 7 or 8."

His parents, Justin Schimandle, a West Aurora school teacher, and Stephanie Kaspar, a teacher at Longbeach Elementary in Oswego, are hoping for the best. While they have insurance to cover medication and therapy, Kycen frequently has ER visits and hospital stays, which have exhausted the couple’s savings and most of their vacation and sick days.

Financially, they need help. And hopefully that’s where you come in.

A fundraiser is being held July 23 at Kickers Club at 1015 Harvey Rd. in Oswego from 2 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. To attend, there is a $10 entry donation, but kids 12 and under are free. Anyone wearing a #kycenstrong shirt gets in for free. Food and carnival games are also free. Attendees are asked to enter via the side door near the back of the building. There will be a cash bar.

Below is a full schedule of events from the fundraiser's Facebook page:

2-5 pm - Chuggo the Clown from Shriners Children's Hospitals. Aka Tom Pod. Balloon and napkin art and general Chuggo shenanigans. (Inside)

2-8 pm - Carnival Games and bounce house with slide. 850 prizes to win! (Outside)

2-10 pm - Raffle sales. $1 for items valued under $200, $5 for items over $200. $5 50/50 raffle. Grand prize queen size latex foam mattress, adjustable base with massage, and 11pc bedding accessories for only $10 per ticket. Total value of $3,150! Over 50 total raffle prizes to win! (Inside)

3-5 pm - Lingering Gas. 70s/80s rock band. (Outside)

4-7 pm - Dinner will be served. Italian beefs, brats on the grill, hot dogs, sides, dessrts. Jason Ammenhauser and Kickers Club don't play when it comes to food! (Inside and outside)

4-10 pm - Face painting and henna by Vanessa Davis Ruble. (Outside)

5 pm - Bags tournament sign up ends. Tournament will start shortly after. $10 entry per person. Teams picked by random draw. Winners split the pot with Kycen. (Outside)

5-10 pm - DJ Chris Craig. Bring your dancing shoes! (Inside)

6-7 pm - The Lowdown Hounds. Blues/Rock band. (Outside)

7-8 pm - Magic and Illusions of Andrew Kline. Check out his fb page and give it a "like". (Outside)

10-close - Raffle winners drawn and prizes passed out.