It is the telephone name that not one mum or dad ever needs to get: “Ma’am, are you able to come into our workplace? We have to discuss in regards to the well being of your son.”

For Shantae Tennant, the second she acquired that decision, time stood nonetheless. She knew one thing was improper. Fact be advised, she was the one which endured when different medical doctors advised her that her son was advantageous. Medical doctors could know a number of issues, however mothers know their boys. And Tennant knew one thing was improper.

“Mikey’s complete life, he is at all times been very small and he was sick after each meal,” Tennant advised K2 Radio Information. “We had seen nearly each pediatrician in Casper, and some in California, as a result of I knew one thing was improper. Everybody simply brushed it off and stated he was ‘a gradual grower.'”

However she wasn’t shopping for it. She knew one thing was occurring along with her boy, she knew he was hurting, and she or he knew that one thing wanted to be executed, shortly.

“I lastly gave one final individual an opportunity earlier than taking him to Colorado, and so they agreed one thing was off, as my different two kiddos have been starting to tower over him,” she stated. “They ran blood work and bone development scans and initially determined that he was ‘development restricted.'”

Tennant nonetheless wasn’t satisfied that was the difficulty, however at the very least it was one thing. On February 25, 2022, Tennant took her boy to an Endocrinologist, who despatched him for an MRI to review the dimensions of his pituitary gland.

“That was at 8:00am,” Tennant stated. “At 5:00pm that night time, they referred to as and requested if I may meet an entire workforce on the Group Well being Middle of Central Wyoming to debate his outcomes.”

That was the telephone name. That was the turning level. That was the second when their lives modified ceaselessly.

Tennant stated that she instantly referred to as her mother to go to the appointment along with her, as her fiance was out of city.

“When myself, my mother and father, and all three of my kiddos acquired there, we have been put right into a room with for individuals,” she remembered. “They requested if the youngsters may keep in a single room, whereas the adults stayed in one other. And that is once they advised me that he had a golf ball-sized mind tumor, mid-brain.”

Tennant stated her first response was to burst into tears, and that is precisely what she did.

“Then I wiped my tears away and went to Mikey to elucidate what was occurring, and what it meant for him,” she stated. “I went straight to my job on the time an took go away, so I may get him instantly seen.”

Tennant stated that she took Mikey to Colorado for extra MRI blood work and a surgical procedure seek the advice of. In addition they talked about chemotherapy/radiation therapy, if it was wanted. Fortunately, it wasn’t.

The surgical procedure was scheduled for April 8, lower than two months after his analysis.

“It was anticipated to be an 8-hour surgical procedure and solely a 5-day hospital keep,” Tennant said. “It grew to become an nearly 11-hour surgical procedure and after we lastly acquired to see him, he was in a coma and he was on life-support. They’d no thought why he would not get up till the following day, once they found he had two strokes.”

Mikey remained in a coma for a while.

“From there, we simply waited on him,” Tennant shared. “I advocated for a feeding tube on the 19th, and it was positioned on the 20th. He awakened after that, however he was blind and he could not stroll or discuss.”

It is the kind of information that would break any person, however that is not the kind of individual Shantae Tennant is. It isn’t the kind of individual Mikey is. Mikey is a fighter. His favourite superhero is Batman and Mikey is aware of that, it doesn’t matter what, Batman at all times fought. So, he’ll struggle too.

“All issues thought-about, he is doing properly,” Tennant stated. “He is speaking like he by no means stopped. He acquired his feeding tube out two weeks in the past. He has imaginative and prescient, however he cannot open his eyes, so he is nonetheless thought-about blind. He is strolling, however not typically, since it is not secure and he is nonetheless unstable. He nonetheless wants medical tools and he has appointments nearly every day.”

Including to the unimaginable stress of getting a baby in such an unfathomable circumstance, there’s additionally the difficulty that plagues most Individuals.

How have been they going to pay for all the things?

“At present, our invoice is within the thousands and thousands,” she wrote in a Spot Fund account that she created to boost cash for this life-changing occasion. “I am truthfully simply attempting to get assist with the medical units we’ll want as soon as house. His step dad is working as a lot as doable to maintain life again house going for after we can return, and I’ve moved to Colorado with out Mikey’s sisters to be right here for him full-time. This implies I’m not working. I am not the kind to ask for cash, however our social employee and monetary counseling on the hospital have inspired me to succeed in out for assist with what I can’t change.”

Tennant stated that Jason’s Associates has helped them tremendously, paying for meals and fuel and even dealing with a few of the payments again house. However that is going to be an extremely lengthy journey, and they’re operating uphill.

And that is the place Journey Elementary College is available in.

“For the previous 7 months, one among our smallest Journey Heroes has been in a struggle for his life,” Journey wrote in a social media submit. “Mikey was a Kindergartner at Journey in the course of the 21-22 college 12 months. In February, he was recognized with a bran tumor.”

The submit detailed Mikey’s struggle, in addition to the struggle his mother and father are waging in opposition to their payments.

“Mikey and his household have been by so many challenges this previous 12 months,” the submit continued. “They’ve all confronted them head-on and are persevering with to beat. Though he has made wonderful development, his battle will not be over. He could have ongoing wants as he continues to heal and recuperate. He could have continued medical wants for a few years to come back. As a college household, we wish to assist assist him!”

In order that’s simply what they’re doing, however they want the neighborhood’s assist.

On August 31, Journey Elementary is holding their ‘Again to College Evening,’ and they’re providing the neighborhood the possibility to donate to Mikey and his household.

“His classmates and youthful sisters have created their very personal authentic artwork items,” the submit said. “We wish to invite you to take part in a silent public sale, the place all proceeds will go straight to his household.”

The open home/silent public sale is from 4pm-6pm at Journey Elementary College, positioned at 2401 Hickory Avenue in Casper.

The submit famous that “In case you are not part of Journey Elementary, or will be unable to attend, you possibly can nonetheless assist assist Mikey’s trigger by visiting this donation web page.“

It is a large ask, and the college is aware of that. But it surely additionally is aware of the key about this neighborhood; that when one among our personal is struggling, when one among our neighborhood members wants assist, particularly if it is a kiddo, assist will probably be there. Casper has confirmed, time and time once more, that it truly is a village relating to taking good care of its kiddos.

“Having [Journey] has been really life altering,” Tennant stated. “I wasn’t positive how it might go, however they’ve gone above and past in each manner; from Easter presents and playing cards within the hospital, to the assist all through all the things else. I truthfully really feel like they really love not simply Mikey, however all of their college students.”

Journey Elementary College is an embodiment of the neighborhood of Casper as an entire. They’re letting their kiddo (and his mother and father) know that he’s not on this alone. Superheroes have sidekicks. Batman has Robin. And Mikey and his household haven’t simply his college, however Casper itself on his workforce, as his sidekick.

That is the neighborhood’s likelihood to show that we’re all ‘Crew Mikey.’