Taste of the Town helps local girls
A cts of kindness are frequent around the South Hills. From kids and their lemonade stands to 5Ks and pasta dinners, doing good deeds and planning benefits to help others within our local communities often top the list of things to do.
With a focus on community outreach, Consulate Health Care of North Strabane has planned a Taste of the Town 3-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26.
Red Lobster, Moes, Ollies, Bartram House and other popular eateries have generously agreed to provide their specialites for the event. Burgh’s Pizza & Wings, King’s Restaurant, Barb Gilmore, South Hills Jewelers and Wendy’s have also provided gift cards and jewelry.
Tickets are $10 for adults. Children age 5 and younger are free.
Proceeds from the event will assist with healthcare expenses required for Abigail and Haylee LaBarbera of Canonsburg.
Abigail, 11, and Haylee, 15, are sisters and they live with their parents, Mark and Jen LaBarbera. Haylee was born with no skin on her feet or on her tongue or lips. When their second daughter, Abigail, was born, Mark and Jen were mentally prepared to care for both daughters who were afflicted with the same painful genetic disease, Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).
The skin of both girls is so fragile that even minor rubbing may cause blistering. Severe cases are not confined to the skin. Blisters can also develop inside the body, in such places as the linings of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, upper airways and bladder.
“Their skin is so fragile that we have to bandage parts of their bodies not only to cover their wounds, but to protect them from further injury,” said Mr. LaBarbera.
When the girls need more specialized care, their parents take them to Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati. Considerable research on EB has been done there by a team of doctors, who are better qualified to care for the girls. “Surgery and treatments are costly,” explained Mr. LaBarbera, “and our insurance doesn’t cover them.”
The young girls attend school in the Canon-McMillan School District each day with nurses on hand to assist them. Abigail is a student in North Strabane Intermediate School. Haylee attends Canon-McMillan High School.
“Our mission at Consulate of North Strabane is to make a difference in the lives we touch,” said Rich Valentic, executive director, who has worked closely with Canon McMillan School District administrators regarding this event. “The LaBarbera girls touched me immediately. When I learned of their challenging story, I knew we could help to make a difference.”
For details on Taste of the Town, call 724-743-9000.
What is EB?
Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic connective tissue disorder of extremely fragile skin that blisters and tears from minor friction or trauma. It is always painful, often debilitating. Those born with it are often called “butterfly children,” because their skin is as fragile as a butterfly. The international organization, DebRA, reports approximately 25,000 cases in the U.S. through April 2011.