Amoeba present in Minnesota~ July 2015

This week we learned of a 14 year old boy near Alexandria, MN that had become infected with what Health Officials believe is PAM. Today, we learned that the young man has passed away after battling the infection. Our thoughts and prayers to out to this family. As we relive the moments of our tragedy, we find that we are thinking about how things went for us and what they must be going through. There are just no adequate words to express to them that will make any of this easier. The road for them will be long~ no doubt. We are praying for them to breath though each moment and to hold tightly to one another and remain close as this is one of the only things you can do.

Our awareness this week has certainly ramped up and we were contacted and accommodated multiple awareness interviews including four TV networks in the Twin Cities- ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC as well as a phone interview with MN Public Radio, Star Tribune newspaper and Pioneer Press Newspaper. While it is painful for us to repeat our story, it might be more painful to be silent.

This is an odd feeling for us. This young boy, so ill. His family, so hurt..... while we are moving forward with awareness efforts as THIS is when the media and members of MN are wanting to hear our message. It feels odd to leverage the media interest in order to get the word out and we have struggled with this throughout the week. I personally have spent time praying about this exact thing and hoping beyond hope that we made good decisions and acted gracefully and respectfully when speaking on the issue.

Our minds have drifted to the many families that we have come to know through this tragedy and that are a part of this awful club we find ourselves in. Without a doubt, each of these families is feeling pain just as we are. Prayers to all of us at this time are much needed.

It has been an extremely long time since I have blogged, but today felt I needed to pick this back up again.

Advocacy and Awareness efforts will continue~

Rest in Paradise Hunter <3

Heidi (Hailee's Mom)