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JOSHUA SPARKS BENEFIT BASH JULY 24,2010 COLUMBIA SC

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JOSHUA SPARKS BENEFIT BASH

JULY 24, 2010

2768 DECKER BLVD.

COLUMBIA, SC 29223

Joshua is a special four year old who has suffered thru more surgeries and procedures than most of us can imagine. A group of friends (Calling All Friends Foundation or CAFF Calling All Friends Foundation ) has formed and banded with many other friends and friends of friends to show support to Joshua and his family. This is the son of Brandon Sparks, Jacobs only employee at Sundown audio.

Joshua was born on November 15, 2005. Shortly after birth it became apparent that something wasn’t right. He was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called Tetrollogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. Basically this meant he had a combination of four heart defects all rolled together. He was transferred to one hospital then to another and had several tests along with a heart catheterization procedure done within his first few days of life.

At seven days old Joshua had his first open heart surgery to repair his heart defects. A couple weeks later he then had to undergo another heart catheter where a wire mess tube called a stent was placed in his pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that supplies blood to the lung) to try to allow more blood flow through the vessel. He stayed for about the first month of his life in the hospital before being released for the first time.

A second open heart surgery was done in the beginning of 2006. Joshua’s blood vessels to his lungs had become smaller over the short time since his first surgery. He had almost no blood flowing to one of his lungs and had to have work done to correct this new problem. He had several complications from this operation including a staff infection in his lungs and a paralyzed diaphragm. The diaphragm is an important muscle babies use to breathe and landed Josh back in the operating room again. This time he had to have his diaphragm plicated to allow him to breathe more easily.

Josh was also diagnosed with failure to thrive and gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Both of these where connected to his heart condition and surgeries. He had a hard time eating on his own and spent the first several months of his life being fed through tubes called NG and NJ tubes. These tubes aren’t meant to be used long term so another operation was needed.

Josh had an operation to place a feeding tube directly into his stomach through his skin along with a procedure to help him not have reflux called a fundoplication in the summer of 2006. Another open heart procedure followed this in December of 2006. This time it was to replace the artificial valve placed in his heart at his original operation as it had calcified, become smaller, and begun to leak over time.

While at home Josh was a happy guy despite his need for tube feedings, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. He went to feeding clinics to help him learn to eat and monitor his weight but it was a seemingly never ending battle to get him on the growth chart and eating on his own.

Eventually Joshua turned a corner and graduated from physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. He learned to eat after much hard work and stopped using his feeding tube. An operation was needed to close his feeding tube because of the length of time he had had it in the fall of 2007.

Joshua continued to need a little extra help developmentally which he attended a special preschool class for through the 2008-2009 school year. He remains small but is on the growth chart, a major milestone for him. He’s very active and playful yet will continue to deal with his heart condition for the rest of his life.

Josh recently underwent his fourth open heart surgery in April of 2010. Yet another heart cath revealed he was building up too much pressure in his heart again. He had to have his artificial valve replaced along with his pulmonary arteries widened. This will continue to be an issue Josh will have to have surgery for throughout his life. He will remain under the watch of his cardiologist and other doctors as long as he lives.

OK whew.........

What we are doing is throwing a Benefit Bash for him that will include a 2x IASCA, 2x DBdrag and a 1x NSPL event on July 24, 2010 in Columbia South Carolina.

Live Music:

Band Area is $5.00 Donation

Beer Trucks will be on hand!!!

Modern Disruption , Blastronaut and Host to Another will supply us with music all day!

Special Guest Melany Meyers as MC!

Raffle for 24' Above Ground Swimming Pool and Installation ($5 a ticket, with drawing at 4 pm or so on 7/24 – email or call to get your ticket!)

Motorcycle Poker Run

Concessions:

BBQ from Little Pigs,

Hot dogs and hamburgers from Kraft Food Services

200 Cupcakes from Melissa's Cake Creation

Stereo Competition (1X NSPL, 2X IASCA and 2X DB Drag Event)

Silent Auction and Raffle Items,

Items include:

Stereo Equipment from Sundown Audio, Yard Treatment from NPK Landscaping, One hour party bus usage from KD Enterprises, Custom made hand bags, Wild Hare Sports Cafe Gift Cards, California

Dreaming Dinner for 2, NASCAR memorabilia from Pepsi including replica Jeff Gordon hoods and hats Dale JR bag and watches and Vintage Pepsi shirts, Gift cards from Egg Roll Express,

Clinique gift baskets, 2x Atlanta Braves Tickets and many many other items.

Kids entertainment includes: ($10.00 donation lets the kids ride all day!)

Bounce House

Rock Climbing Wall

Super Slides

Balloon Artist

Face Paint Artist

Fair Games

NASCAR Remote Race Car Track

This will be fun and entertaining for the whole family. So please pack up everyone you can and come on out to help support one of our own! If you can't make it but would like to help please visit our website at Calling All Friends Foundation we are 100% non-profit. We have PAYPAL so every dollar helps and it is also tax deductible.

For more info please feel free to contact me

Rob Webster at rwebster@callingallfriendsfoundation.org

Calling All Friends Foundation

Thanks guys looking forward to seeing you all there!

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Top Dog Audio will be donating 2% of net profit each year to do what we can to help Joshua sparks, best wish's to him and the rest of his family.

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I'll be there to support little Joshua Sparks.I'm right up the street from that area.Me and my family send out our prayers to little Joshua and his family........

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***** UPDATE:

Ok sorry for the delay in updates but have a lot going on.

Jacob added a pair of SA-10's and another SAX1200D!

Top Dog Audio will be donating 2% of net profit each year!

Coach Ray Tanner with the South Carolina Gamecocks signed a baseball!!! They won the Collage World Series. Some players also signed a baseball for us!

Specialty food basket from South Carolina Specialty Food Association!

Doris Walker/Avon: Disney® The Princess and the Frog Shower Gel and Flower Hooded Towel!

Gift card from PC Corner!

Tickets from Comedy House Theater!

Free night stay at TownPlace Suites by Marriott!

If you are traveling from out of the Columbia area, we have arrangements with the TownPlace Suites by Marriott off of Garners Ferry Road for a discounted rate. Please contact TownPlace by phone at 803-695-0062 and say that you are attending the Joshua Sparks Benefit. It is $10 off and the rate applies for stays from 7/23 thru 7/25. Thank you Anit Patel!

Also the Richland County Dare vehicles will be out for the kids with a kids ID station!

I'm sure there are a few items I'm missing but will be listed soon or at the event. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

http://www.callingallfriendsfoundation.org

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***** UPDATE:

Ok sorry for the delay in updates but have a lot going on.

Jacob added a pair of SA-10's and another SAX1200D!

Top Dog Audio will be donating 2% of net profit each year!

Coach Ray Tanner with the South Carolina Gamecocks signed a baseball!!! They won the Collage World Series. Some players also signed a baseball for us!

Specialty food basket from South Carolina Specialty Food Association!

Doris Walker/Avon: Disney® The Princess and the Frog Shower Gel and Flower Hooded Towel!

Gift card from PC Corner!

Tickets from Comedy House Theater!

Free night stay at TownPlace Suites by Marriott!

If you are traveling from out of the Columbia area, we have arrangements with the TownPlace Suites by Marriott off of Garners Ferry Road for a discounted rate. Please contact TownPlace by phone at 803-695-0062 and say that you are attending the Joshua Sparks Benefit. It is $10 off and the rate applies for stays from 7/23 thru 7/25. Thank you Anit Patel!

Also the Richland County Dare vehicles will be out for the kids with a kids ID station!

I'm sure there are a few items I'm missing but will be listed soon or at the event. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

http://www.callingallfriendsfoundation.org

what time does the event start?

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