Bristol School rallies behind eighth-grade student

By Gail Peckler-Dziki
Correspondent

Can one person make a difference? If you asked Julie Bayles, she would tell you the answer is yes…and no.

Seth is her son and since he was 7, has battled a rare autoimmune disorder for which there is no cure and doctors have found no cause. Seth’s own immune system was aggressively attacking his body systems and permanently damaging them.

Despite this situation and the amount of time he and mom Julie spend traveling to and from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Seth thinks of others.

When his regular doctor at Mayo Clinic mentioned the Children’s Heart Project, both Julie and Seth were interested.

Children’s Heart Project arranges life-saving operations for hundreds of children who live in countries where the required medical expertise and equipment are not available.

Since 1997, Children’s Heart Project has arranged life-saving operations for more than 1,000 children.

For six years, Julie and her family operated Christian Mission Thrift Store, and the funds generated by this non-profit were used to support Gospel-centered missions.

“We had the store for six years,” Julie explained in a telephone interview, “and it became too much to continue to run the store and care for my family. So we decided it was time to close.”

Julie explained Children’s Heart Project to her children and said that the money from the store closing could be used to help children from other countries get life-saving surgery here that is not available to them in their home countries.

With the proceeds from the store closing, the Bayles family was able to fund travel and other expenses for three children and their caregivers from Mongolia.

The Bayles family grew close to those families and children, who were all moved by the care, kindness and love they received from the Bayleses and the Children’s Heart Project.

Seth, who will graduate from Bristol Grade School this year, shared the video that was made about the three children with his class.

Amy Wagner is Seth’s homeroom teacher and every year she has students choose a service project.

“It’s important that we teach students to consider the needs of others and give them the opportunity to help them,” she said.

And Seth’s class got very excited about the Children’s Heart Project.

So far, the class has raised $1,200 through parent donations, a wear red day, a bake sale and bookmarks that are sold at the Bristol 45 Diner and the Bristol Antique Mall. The bookmarks were made by Bristol eighth graders.

The cost to get one child to Mayo Clinic is $2,200, and Wagner believes they will meet and possibly exceed this goal.

Last weekend, a dodge ball tournament was held at Bristol Grade School, with all proceeds helping Seth.

Because of health issues, Seth couldn’t play, but Wagner said that he is the team manager and his classmates will all wear T-shirts honoring Seth.

“Despite health problems, Seth thinks of helping others and has been an inspiration for not only this class, but the whole school,” Amy said. “When he walks down the hall, everyone wants a high-five from him – from kindergarten up.”

Mom Julie explained, “This isn’t about Seth or our family, but the entire community. Friends from Crossway Church and our children volunteered for the closing sale. And the Bristol Grade School students are doing what they can to help more children who don’t have access to the medical care they need to live.”

Anyone wishing to donate to the Children’s Heart Project can contact Wagner at Bristol School by calling (262) 857-2334, ext. 1204.