Benefit supper for infant fighting like a ‘trooper’

 Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
TINY TROOPER — Parents Shawn and Alisa Margison at home with infant Makinlee will be at a benefit supper on Saturday afternoon at Houlton Elementary School to help the family with medical expenses as their infant daughter continues to fight health issues.
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — “She has been a trooper through it all,” said Alisa Margison whose seven-week-old baby, Makinlee, has undergone numerous medical procedures while fighting health issues. The mother added that at 6 pounds, 9 ounces, the baby is just three ounces over her birth weight nearly two months ago. “We have to try to catch her up with her weight and we may have to supplement her with high caloric formula.”
    The tiny good natured infant, according to her mother, “appeared to be healthy at birth. But, she had some jaundice and a heart murmur that never went away.” Margison added that various blood work procedures, MRIs and CAT scans revealed “a huge mass in her liver” thought at one time to be potentially cancerous. “It looked pretty grim when we thought it was cancer,” reflected Alisa as she nursed the baby.
    A mass blocking Makinlee’s major bile duct was wrapped around a major vein of the liver. And surgery, if performed then, could have had potentially lethal consequences. Eventually, a biopsy showed “mixed results.” Later doctors in Boston concluded that the Makinlee did not have cancer but a hemangioma which is an abnormal growth of  blood vessels in addition to a benign tumor.
Benefit Saturday for Makinlee
    Numerous out-of-town trips to doctors and other expenses have rallied the community to hold a benefit on Saturday afternoon at Houlton Elementary School to help with bills and related medical costs.
    The parents returned last week from Boston with some good news. “Now, the tumor seems to be shrinking on its own. So, the doctors are holding off on giving her any type of toxic drugs or radiation. But we have to go back to see a liver specialist in Portland,” said Alisa Margison.
    Traveling back and forth has taken its toll on the family’s finances and on Shawn Margison’s job situation at Walmart. According to his wife, “he has had to miss a lot of work because he has had to come with me for procedures or stay here to take care of the children. He has used up all his vacation time and some of his sick time. After 40 hours of sick time, it will count against his attendance and he will be written up. They told him it is best to take an unpaid leave of absence.” She added that his most recent paycheck had been cut by about two-thirds due to absences.
    The couple met while both were employed at Walmart and have been married for seven years. She said both wanted a big family and now have, in addition to Makinlee, Jacob 7, Brady and Logan who are 6-year-old twins, Conner 4  and Isabella 20 months. None of the other children have known health issues. 
    Proceeds from    the benefit will help them meet their obligations. But, Alisa said she knows what needs to be paid first, like the mortgage, electric, sewer, water, gas, the truck payment and insurance. “His money is already gone before bills are paid.” Thanks to Gillis Fuel in Danforth, the owner gave them 100 gallons of oil. They have been taking food with them when traveling “because eating out is so expensive.” However, the family can use gas cards for future appointments, grocery cards to stock up on food, gift cards to avoid eating out when keeping appointments and of course, cash.
    The benefit will be at Houlton Elementary School, Saturday, Nov. 20 from 4-7 p.m. For more information, contact Jennifer Roshto at 532-7046.