HOW gathering to focus on young boy with brain injury

Supporters of the nonprofit community organization Helping One Woman Oakhurst (HOW) will gather on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. to honor Christy Robesky at Sierra Senior Center.

HOW envisions a world where everyone is willing to provide comfort and support to another person when they need hope restored to their life. The group is centered on uplifting monthly community dinners for women who have suffered a devastating loss.

The HOW leadership team includes Kim Morris, Jennifer Snyder, Molly Taylor and Amanda Feil.

Organizers said Robesky has called Oakhurst home for the past 23 years. She is the mother of two boys, Maddox and Colt, and the loving fiancée of CJ.

“Over the past five months their oldest son, Maddox, has remained hospitalized after suffering a catastrophic brain injury,” explained sponsor Brittany Gregory.

Following countless surgeries, setbacks and prayers for a miracle, Christy and CJ received the heartbreaking news that Maddox’s brain continues to deteriorate, Gregory said.

Maddox has now been placed on hospice care.

“Maddox’s brain injury happened because of preventable mistakes at Valley Children’s Hospital,” Christy Robesky said.

“Maddox has hydrocephalus and has a programmable shunt in his brain that drains extra spinal fluid. When he had an MRI the machine changed the settings on his shunt. After the MRI nobody contacted his neurosurgeon to come reset it.”

With his shunt not working, more than 50 milliliters of spinal fluid built up on his brain.

“On April 21 around 5 a.m. Maddox stopped breathing,” his mom said.

“He wasn’t on the proper monitors so no one knew. He went five to six minutes without breathing before anyone found him. Those few minutes changed our lives forever. The lack of oxygen caused severe brain damage. He can no longer breathe on his own and depends on a ventilator to keep him alive.”

Robesky said the family has watched Maddox’s brain function has continued to worsen because of the damage that was done.

“Our little boy deserved better. What happened to him wasn’t just life changing, it took away the future he should have had. And now we’re living every parent’s worst nightmare.”

Gregory said the family spends each day focused on making the most of the precious time they have left together, knowing they will lose their son and brother.

“Christy is grieving while Maddox is still here, trying to create meaningful memories, make impossible decisions and hold her family together through the unimaginable. At the same time, she is doing everything she can to be present for two-year-old Colt, who still needs his mom despite all that their family is enduring.”

The emotional weight of the journey has been immense, said Gregory, and the practical realities of spending months at the hospital have only added to it.

“CJ, the family’s primary source of income, has spent every moment he can at Maddox’s bedside, often missing work to be with his son. Christy’s ability to earn an income has also been interrupted while Maddox remains hospitalized, adding another layer of uncertainty during an already unimaginable time.”

While their days are devoted to loving Maddox, supporting little Colt and cherishing every moment, everyday responsibilities continue.

“Household bills, travel, meals away from home and the many unexpected expenses that come with an unexpected hospital stay have not paused even though life as they knew it has.”

The community is invited to celebrate Christy Robesky and surround her family with the care and encouragement of the Helping One Woman community.

“Your attendance will help ease some of life’s everyday burdens, giving Christy the freedom to focus on what matters most: loving her boys and making the most of every moment they have together.”

Each HOW guest pays for their dinner and also contributes a minimum $10 collected at the door, payable in cash or check. Checks should be made to Christy Robesky.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to hear my story and for the kindness, generosity and compassion you are showing my family,” said Robesky.

“Your support means more than I could ever put into words and it reminds us that even in our darkest moments we are not walking this journey alone.”

HOW it works

Prepaid tickets are required before Aug. 16 at noon. Guests must reserve their seats and prepay for their meals at mysosevent.com/events/oakhurst-christy-robesky in advance.

Willow Creek is catering the meal and Sierra Senior Center is providing the venue.

Dinner options include a choice of sweet mesquite tri tip with chimichurri, grilled marinated chicken with mango avocado compote or marinade Portobello over zucchini pasta with chimichurri. All meals include garlic roasted Yukon potatoes and spinach arugula salad with tea or water.

Raffle, silent and/or live auction items will be available. Door prizes and auction items are donated each month by local merchants and individuals. At the end of the evening the money is gifted to the woman being honored.

Monetary gifts, raffle items and auction items are currently being accepted.

HOW Oakhurst chapter volunteer leaders are Jennifer Snyder (818) 314-9168, Kim Morris (661) 304-6046, Molly Taylor (909) 915-0375 and Amanda Feil (661) 304-6045. Email howoakhurstchapter@gmail.com or visit HOW Oakhurst on Facebook for more information.

Doors open at Sierra Senior Center (49111 Cinder Lane) in Oakhurst at 5:30 p.m.