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2023 Tour Local Event Honorees for Huntsville
The Cade R. Alpard Foundation for Pediatric Liver Disease, Inc.
Cade’s Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 2003 by Scott and Jennifer Alpard for the purpose of supporting and funding the various programs that will make a difference in the lives of children with liver disease. Our mission is to find a cure for pediatric liver disease through the support of research and education.
When Cade was first diagnosed with biliary atresia, we knew he would eventually require a liver transplant. We didn’t think he would need one this soon, but we are thankful he received a healthy liver and now can get back to being a normal, happy, active child.
During the rollercoaster of a year one of the most difficult parts was how helpless and frustrated we felt. The most difficult thing a parent can do is put the life of their child in someone else’s hands. Obviously, this is what was required for Cade to receive the wonderful and compassionate care that everyone at Texas Children’s Hospital provided (in spite of his occasionally demanding and frustrated parents).
During this ordeal, we decided we had to do something that would allow us to feel like we were involved or at least making some kind of difference. We met numerous families and got to know other brave, courageous, and beautiful children that had received a liver transplant or who had some type of liver disease. We felt that we could and should do something to make a difference in the lives of not only these children, and their families, but in the lives of others in the years to come.
In addition, we learned no other organization existed that was solely focused on finding cures for these devastating illnesses. As a result, we created a Foundation, in Cade’s name, focused on pediatric liver disease. It is with a great amount of pride and appreciation that we use Cade’s name for this worthwhile endeavor.
As Title Honoree, The Cade R. Alpard Foundation for Pediatric Liver Disease, Inc will be recognized at each local event along the 2023 Lone Star Circle of Life route.
Ronnie Mascheck – Be The Match Advocate
Ronnie has been a long-term volunteer for Be The Match. He got involved after his son, Zack, needed a marrow transplant and was unable to find a matching donor in the registry. Ronnie’s other son was able to be his donor, but after two transplants, he relapsed and passed away.
At this time Ronnie was working at Houston Police Department, so he wanted to help raise awareness for the need for donors. Because of him, Be the Match has a long-term partnership with Houston Police Department and attend every new academy cadet class. Each class registers at least 30 new members to the registry.
Because of this partnership, Be The Match has registered over 2,000 Houston Police Department officers and civilian staff and 18 of those have gone on to donate to help a patient in need. Ronnie attends each new cadet class to share his story and encourage the new cadets to join the registry.
Ronnie says Zac was his inspiration to work to find stem cell and marrow donors and to also ride on a bike relay team to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Tony Attardo – Stem Cell Transplant Recipient
Tony Attardo was diagnosed with a form of leukemia and needed a transplant. Although the odds were in his favor of finding several possible donors on the registry, he only had one possible match from another country. In 2021, after chemotherapy, Tony had a stem cell transplant.
He is grateful to his donor and Be The Match. He volunteers as often as he can and loves coming to Sam Houston State University and talking to the students about how they can potentially save a life and encourage them to join the registry.
Mark Stacie – Searching for a Kidney Donor
“I had my first kidney/pancreas transplant in March 2008. Unfortunately, in summer of 2022 my kidney failed. I’ve been on dialysis three times per week for over two years. I appreciate the gift that dialysis is extending my life, but I miss so much time with my daughter and two granddaughters.
I recently had the call for a living donor and went all the way to the pre operation meeting. I had a surgeon, time of surgery, and all test cleared by both of us. On the Friday before the surgery, I got the call “My transplant was canceled. The donor is no longer available”. Sad news but I have to believe in God’s plan. I’m hoping and praying, this is part of his plan.”
Aeriana White – Two-Time Stem Cell Donor
“I first learned about the Be The Match program when they were on campus asking people to sign up. I was in a hurry to get to class but I told them I would sign up when I get out of class, and I kept my promise. They told me about what the program is and how we could sign up to be a donor for patients with blood cancer. Since my grandfather passed away from prostate cancer, I felt that this program was my calling. I signed up for the registry and waited patiently hoping to find a match.
I was notified that I was a match for a patient with Lymphoma. They told me I would have to do bloodwork to see if I was a perfect match and sure enough, I was. I donated several months later via a central line through the femoral vein because the veins in my arm are too small for the procedure. I was flown to Wisconsin for the procedure. They covered the flight, the hotel, eating expenses, travel expenses, and missed wages for my mom since she missed work.
I recovered after a week and the patient received the transplant. A few months later, I was asked to donate again as a booster for the patient. I agreed again and was flown to Michigan for the procedure. This time they went above my collarbone to access the vein. They gave us the same hospitality, but it took me longer to recover.
The journey was worth it because I was given a chance to save someone’s life. I wouldn’t take it back for anything because it is a new life experience for me and gave me a better view of life itself.”
Eta Sigma Gamma – Be The Match Supporters
Eta Sigma Gamma, an honorary society for health education at Sam Houston State University, has been working with Be the Match for the last ten years. Be the Match is their philanthropy project that they dedicate their time to. Each one of these students understands the importance of such of this event. They go above and beyond each and every semester with our 4-day event. They come in and help in any way possible and needed to make sure the event runs smooth.
They have been out there on both hot sunny days and even during the rainy ones. Their grit and willingness to adapt to any situation that may arise is out of this world. Without their help and willingness, we would not have been as successful as we have on our campus. The Eta Sigma Gamma volunteers have helped us create some great memories. I cannot thank them enough for all their hard work and dedication to Be the Match.
Danny Gearheart Jr. – Living Kidney Donor
A few years ago, I learned about a fellow father of four who was on dialysis and in need of a kidney transplant. I am O blood type and since that is the universal donor, I thought there was a good chance I could donate an organ.
My job is extremely busy in the summer, and we had already missed one year that I intended to donate, so I decided I had to do my donation by March to be able to fully recover by summer. The recipient had some health issues to address before he could receive his donation, so my coordinator told me about he SWAP voucher program. I thought this was such an interesting program because our timings weren’t aligning.
I knew that I had to go first (or the same time) for him to go to the top of the list. I was concerned he would need the donation in summer, and I would not be able to help. I donated this past March, and he is nearing eligibility to receive a kidney.
Joey Workman – Blood Recipient
Joey is such an energetic kid who loves to go camping with his family (mom, dad, little sister Rylee, and Goldendoodle Zoey). Joey loves to learn, and his favorite topics are the various modes of transportation, numbers, and bugs. Joey’s enthusiasm for life is inspiring for those around him.
Joey was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on Aprill 11, 2022 when he was 2 1/2 years old. Immediately after being diagnosed, Joey needed six blood transfusions to raise his hemoglobin level. A result of his chemotherapy is that Joey has needed many transfusions of red blood cells and platelets.
Joey’s treatment has been a hard battle for him. He spent 85 days inpatient at Texas Children’s Hospital during his first year of treatment due to various complications and chemotherapy. Joey reached remission in August, 2022 and began maintenance therapy in April of this year. Joey’s treatment will continue through August, 2024. Joey and his family thank you for your prayers and support!
Max Boatwright – Marrow Transplant Recipient
Max was born with a genetic disorder which causes tumors to grow throughout his body. In December 2015, a brain tumor developed causing him to be legally blind. During chemotherapy for the brain tumor, he developed acute myelogenous leukemia.
He received two lifesaving bone marrow transplants and is currently five years cancer free!
Leslie Meigs – Searching Patient and Blood Recipient
My kidney disease was caused by a deadly experience with bacterial meningitis when I was eight years old. I spent two months in the hospital, one month in a coma, and five weeks on a ventilator. I had three negative brain scans, and they prepared to stop life support multiple times. I would have died if it weren’t for my amazing medical team, the 52 units of donated blood, and God’s grace. Somehow, despite it all, I left the hospital with everything but my kidney function.
Growing up with kidney disease wasn’t easy. I was constantly going back and forth between home, school, and the hospital. I was a freshman in college by the time I received my first transplant. My first semester before my transplant was spent pretending that I was healthy as my body continued to deteriorate. I was vomiting every morning, my feet were so swollen I couldn’t wear shoes, and my body ached constantly. I had to mentally cut out most days just to keep going as a student. I remember going to bed and crying and wondering when or if it would ever stop.
By my second semester, my dad donated one of his kidneys to save my life. We named the kidney Neal after him. My dad gave me 14 years of a healthy life and it was amazing. His kidney helped me finish college, travel the world, meet and marry my husband, and continue living out my passion for patient advocacy and representation in medical, scientific, and legal matters.
It was May of this year, right after National Donate Life Month, that I received the news that my dad’s kidney function had declined, and I would need to be put back on the list. Unfortunately, this is completely normal with organ transplants.
Thus, here I am again. I’ve spent the past few months reliving the pain and uncertainty that came with waiting for my first transplant. As I sit at home each day, feeling my body deteriorate more and more, I’m grateful for the chance to be reminded once again of the true power and importance of organ donation.
Most days now, I struggle to move from my bed to my desk and back again. I can’t ever seem to catch my breath, and I’m constantly fighting my body to keep up with my mind. Where I once took 10 pills a day, I now take well over to 40 just to keep myself alive. I’ve shaken hands with death plenty of times before, but the point of organ failure, and frankly the point of my story, is that it’s a certainty that death and I will meet again without a transplant. That alone keeps life and our mission at LifeGift in perspective for me each day. Although I am a prisoner of my own body once again, I find inspiration in knowing that, thanks to organ donation, I can survive this. I can have my life back, and I can continue to fight for the voices that have been suppressed by our diseased organs.
So, it is with my literal life in the balance that I share the importance of saying “yes” to organ and tissue donation. My story is one of so many, and we fight this fight constantly day in and out. When you see an opportunity to give the greatest gift of all, the gift of life, please remember us.