A Life's Pursuit: Friday is for Shardai

Friday, December 08, 2006

Friday is for Shardai

In a life's pursit, one may incur many obstacles. None of them will be so great as our capacity or need to help another. Obviously some needs are so great that we simply do nothing, paralyzed from just the daunting task and overall domination of helplessness; but every mountain contains a pebble. This incredible story came to me from a good friend; so I pass it on to my greatest outlet, you, whose hearts are far bigger than any words I can imagine.

Shardai is an eighth grader at Smyrna Middle School. She is an Honor Roll student who also plays percussion in the band, volunteers as an office worker, and helps to manage the cheerleading squad. She has been seen volunteering in several activities in her school and her community; she is eager to do anything she can to help others. But, Shardais excellent academic performance, impressive extracurricular involvement, and servant heart are not the only characteristics that make her noticeable.




Her Story...Since birth, Shardai has suffered from a rare skin disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa that creates very painful, blister-like sores over her entire body. At the age of five, Shardai was also diagnosed with Polymosytis, a muscle deterioration disorder, that aggravates her ability to manage the skin disorder. In addition, Shardai has a gum disorder that causes her gums to swell considerably and requires that she undergo gum reduction surgery on a yearly basis. Shardais skin disorder is to blame for the excruciating pain she must face each and every day of her life. She also must spend quite a bit of time each morning wrapping her skin in medicated wraps and gauze to protect from infection and try to allow her sores to heal. She must also undergo very painful, lengthy medical procedures on a regular basis to treat her skin. See her pictures.



Here’s how you can help:
1) EMAIL EMHE - The application and video have been submitted to Extreme Makeover Home Edition, but we need you to help us email the show and ask them to build a house for this very deserving family. Send an email to feedback@emhe.tv with “Please Build a House for the Cousino Family in Smyrna, TN” in the subject line. In the email, please ask ABC to build a house for the Cousino family in Smyrna, TN. Feel free to add your own message about why you think this family is deserving. Also, if you would be willing to help build the house or to donate materials/supplies, please include that in your email as well.

2)  SPREAD THE WORD - You can also help by asking your friends and family to email the show and request the home build. Send emails to your entire family, friends, coworkers – everyone you know – and ask them to help. The more emails that are sent to the show, the greater the chance that ABC will choose the Cousino family. Please keep in mind that the show only allows one email per email address.
Thank you for taking the time to help this very deserving family!!!




I dropped a pebble in the water and the ocean sent waves carrying ships I could have never lifted.



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