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Benefit Aims To Ease Boy's Medical Bills

14-Year-Old Has Down's Syndrome

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Suzanne Schmidt

In The Loop

Published: September 19, 2008

Darby - Shane Allen has a personality that instantly captivates people.

That's what the organizer of an upcoming fundraiser says about the 14-year-old Dade City resident who has endured six operations in less than a year.

Tony Martin was so bowled over by the teen, who was born with Down syndrome, he felt compelled to assist the Allen family.

"They had a golf tournament to benefit him, and when I met him, he hugged me," Martin said. "I thought he was a remarkable kid. He was so friendly and so sweet that I automatically bonded with him. At the dinner, they announced they had raised $2,800. I thought that was not enough, so I came up with an idea."

Martin and his friends have been able to line up several bands and a chicken dinner for the Shane Allen Benefit, which will start at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Smokehouse Creek Arena, 30232 Darby Road, Darby. Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults.

"We will have seven different bands playing different types of music, including blues, country and some Southern rock 'n' roll," said Martin, who lives in Zephyrhills. "We will have door prizes, a silent auction and inflatables for the children. It should be a fun day for everybody."

Martin said he was compelled to help because he remembered how hard it was on his 4-year-old son Nicholas when he had his tonsils removed. He said he couldn't imagine the pain and stress Shane and his family have gone through.

Shane's mother, Sue Allen, said the last year has been hard, but she thinks things are looking up now that she has found so many people who want to help her son.

"It is nice someone can take time out of their busy schedule to put something together for someone," Allen said. "I think this will help tremendously. I don't know where to begin to thank everybody. Anything raised will go straight to the medical bills."

Allen said Shane's medical marathon began late last year, and has only just subsided.

Shane was taken to the hospital after complaining of stomach pain Nov. 20. The emergency room doctors at St. Joseph's Hospital rushed Shane into surgery, where they discovered his large intestine and small intestine were tangled. Quickly after the first surgery, they performed another operation, where they removed 11/2 feet of his large intestine.

In the months that followed, Shane returned for four more surgeries. When it seemed as if the surgeries were over, he had to go back for another on his neck. The bones at the base of his skull had rotated, which required the removal of two ribs that were moved to his neck. The surgery also added a plate at the base of his skull and a pin and rod system to hold the new bones in place.

"The insurance capped off after the fourth surgery," Allen said. "The only thing we are waiting for now is for the CAT scan from the last surgery. They need to make sure the plate at the base of his skull, and the pins and rods, are all fusing and growing correctly.

"He is now slowly bouncing back. Every day he is not in the hospital it is a blessing. He is definitely our little hero."

Martin is accepting sponsors for the event. He said he is hoping to get enough sponsors to pay for all the food and materials so all the proceeds from ticket sales can go to the family.

Guests to the event will be treated to a grilled chicken dinner with potato salad, baked beans and bread.

For information or to purchase tickets, call Martin at (352) 302-2444 or Frank Tomkow at (813) 714-1021.

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