Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree

What do a popular Christmas song, a young boy in need of a kidney transplant and an assisted living community all have in common? Before you read on, please be warned that you may think very differently of the favorite holiday song “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” this holiday season.

Dexter McDade is the son of Alexis and Jerred McDade of Saline County, and he turned two years old in June. He’s currently on the waitlist for a kidney transplant at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Dexter’s mom Alexis McDade shares, “As of right now, it’s very up in the air as to if and when Dexter will find a match.” While the McDades have been contacted by several possible donors, the matching process takes two to three months for each donor and a positive match isn’t a guaranteed outcome.

The McDades are very hopeful a donor will soon be the perfect match for Dexter, and are doing their best to prepare for all the unknowns that come along with major transplant surgery. They will undoubtedly incur expenses during the two-week hospital stay–travel to and from the hospital and meals while Alexis and Jerred are with Dexter at the hospital, to name a few. Then once Dexter is back at home after the surgery, there will be two to three trips to Little Rock each week for doctors appointments, resulting in ongoing travel costs.

Even during this time of waiting and preparation, life must go on. “Dexter is a cancer survivor, but acts like a typical two-year old boy. His sickness doesn’t slow him down, and thankfully he’s not aware of his health issues. He has to be tube fed, and does dialysis every night for 10 hours. We have constant doctor appointments in Little Rock. Dexter is one of three kids and we treat him just as we treat the others,” says Alexis.

As word of Dexter’s surgery and the McDade’s needs spread in the Saline County community, a local assisted living community stepped up to help meet the need. Mt. Carmel Community is a licensed Assisted and Independent Living Community located in Saline County. Jimmy Elrod, Executive Director and Managing Partner of Mt. Carmel Community says, “When we speak about Mt. Carmel Community, we use words like family, home, and community. This is deliberate and sincere. We consider our senior living community as more than just a place to live. It’s an extended family and a loving, compassionate place that you can call home. Our residents understand what it is like to need to receive assistance from others. Upon learning that there was a local child in need, they wanted to be able to provide assistance!”

Jimmy adds, “The concept for ‘Rocking Around the Christmas Tree’ was born out of a search for something that almost everyone in our Mt. Carmel family would be able to participate in–rocking in a rocking chair!  Anyone who is a part of Mt. Carmel, resident or employee, can sign up for a one-hour time slot to rock for Dexter. Those who are rocking are encouraged to ask family, friends, their church, local businesses, etc. to sponsor their hour by making a donation to this fundraising event. We also hope that Saline County as a whole will get on board and call to sponsor one of our rockers.”

Mt. Carmel Community will be “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” throughout the week of December 15-19, 2014. All funds raised will be donated directly to the McDade family for expenses related to Dexter’s kidney transplant.

“The Mt. Carmel Community hopes that Saline County residents and businesses will show their support for seniors who are giving of themselves so that they can, in turn, give to Dexter McDade. Our residents are so thrilled to be able to help Dexter’s family and Saline County has the opportunity to make their desire a reality,” says Jimmy.

“We’ve been very blessed by the outpouring of support for our family. We have overwhelming emotions about how people have stepped up and offered to help,” shares Alexis McDade.

The long-time favorite Christmas song “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” often conjures up thoughts of holiday merriment, dancing and revelry. This Christmas, when you hear this popular song, maybe you will stop and think of Dexter and the good folks at Mt. Carmel Community. Would you take a quiet moment to pray for a kidney match for Dexter?  Would you go a step further and call or email Shannon at Mt. Carmel Community, 501-315-1555 or Shannon@mtcarmelcommunity.com, and pledge a donation to one of Dexter’s rockers? That’s what this season really is about, isn’t it? To be reminded to do for others as we hope they’d do for us.