Serious illnesses are bad enough for an adult, but when a child is facing a potentially life-threatening situation, the sense of helplessness can overwhelm the family.

On February 6, Wichita Falls Oral Surgeon Dr. Sandra Vergara contacted Challenges for Women, a local non-profit, seeking help for the family of an 11-year-old boy in need of surgery. The child has a cyst inside his mouth that will require removal and biopsy.

The young student and soccer player is described as ‘a good, all-around young man facing a potentially dire situation.’ Gaye Beck with Challenges for Women says the family is in need of financial support. She says Dr. Vergara advises that the surgery needs to be performed within days and could cost upwards of $20,000, with $6,500 needed prior to the procedure itself.

Beck and her organization are appealing to the generosity of the Wichita Falls community for help. “His aunt is helping with $1,000 and the parents are just hard working folks who don’t have the finances to cover the costs.” The boy’s father is a laborer who is currently out of work, which only compounds the tension of the situation.

Challenges For Women says that the surgery cannot be done any later than February 17th or 18th, so if you would like to donate please don't wait.

You can donate online via this GoFundMe page set up to help raise money for the young boy.

Donations for the family can also be sent to:

Challenges for Women

A 501C3 Non-Profit/S.A.

P.O. Box 3084

Wichita Falls, TX 76301

Please keep in mind your donation is tax deductible. If you have any questions you can contact Gaye Beck at 940-689-0555.