Casen Buswell, a 12-week-old Puyallup boy with a beaming smile, is a baby you would want to wrap in a loving hug.
But it’s much, much more complicated than that.
Casen has just been diagnosed with Plaque Type Glomuvenous Malformations, a vascular disorder caused by a missing gene. The disorder is so rare, only 13 other cases across the world have been confirmed. It causes veins to appear just beneath his skin, causing his belly and chest to look bruised.
Devastatingly, touch of any kind is painful for him.
“No one knows how much future testing is needed, and none of it is covered by insurance,” said Staci Reyes, a friend of Jenna Buswell, Casen’s mother.
Nicknamed the “pit bulls,” Reyes is part of a group of supporters raising money for Casen’s treatment. So far, fundraisers on the Give Forward website and bake sale have netted almost $25,000 for the family.
With such a rare condition, treatment options in the South Puget Sound are just not enough. There is only one doctor in the world who has ever treated patients with GVM-Plaque Type, and he is in Belgium.
Armed with a diagnosis, the Buswell family is ready to leave everything behind and find relief and support for their baby. But Reyes said that all the unknown practicalities – where they would stay, how long they would be there – are nerve-wracking. And the biggest unknown is how much all of this will cost.
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HOW YOU CAN HELP
Friends and family of the Buswell family are hosting a bake sale at Kalles Jr. High in Puyallup this Saturday, May 19. The gym will be packed for Loganfest, an annual basketball tournament that supports a family in need. This year, baby Casen is the fundraiser beneficiary. The tournament is free and Casen’s supporters will be there selling $5 Hope bracelets and baked goods, with all proceeds going to the Buswell family.
A community garage sale kicked off today and continues tomorrow. Stop by 17405 135th Ave. Ct. East in Puyallup anytime between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, May 19.
The family has two donation websites to donate through on the Give Forward website. You can donate online at giveforward/com/casenpcifund or http://www.giveforward.com/casensfund. Donations can also be made in Casen Buswell's name at any branch of Harborstone Bank.
