A Hope Elementary School student who had brain surgery last week is recovering and is expected to return to school in January.
Second-grader Azlyn Whittington underwent surgery Dec. 17 at Indiana University Health Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis to correct what is known as a Chiari malformation, a condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal.
Whittington’s mother, Amber, said her 8-year-old daughter’s 2-hour surgery was moved up a day due to some congestion.
“The doctor said everything went as perfect as they could be,” Amber Whittington said. “She’s a trooper.”
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A follow-up MRI will be conducted to ensure there are no issues, with regular check-ups also scheduled during the coming year, she said.
In addition to the good news regarding the girl’s surgery, the family also received a financial boost from the Hope area community, some of the proceeds from a Dec. 15 Soups for Santa fundraiser at Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School attended by about 300 people.
Among them were 8-year-old Azlyn.
Amber Whittington said her daughter enjoyed meeting people, many of whom who asked to pray with the family.
“Azlyn is a little people superstar,” Amber Whittington said. “It was really awesome.”
Twenty-seven different types of soups were donated for the event, organized by the Students Fund of Hope, a local nonprofit organization that provides assistance to Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. students.
Jaye Lahee, a former Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. teacher, donated 24 handcrafted bowls for the event, bringing in $300.
Of the $2,211 raised during Soups for Santa, $1,300 will benefit the Whittington family, said Whitney Budd, president of the organization.
“We wouldn’t have made it throughout this time without them,” Amber Whittington said of the Students Fund of Hope. “It was a great, humbling experience for all of us.”
The mother said her family is appreciative of all the support they have received from the local community.
The remaining $900 from the fundraiser will go toward upcoming community projects, Budd said.
