Rutherford Weekly

Page 4 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, March 3-March 9, 2022 Think you might be pregnant? Foothills Health District offers pregnancy tests and complete maternity care at our Maternal Health Clinic at the Rutherford County Health Department. In addition to offering unparalleled maternity and postpartum care, the Health Department offers family planning services, Care Management for high-risk pregnancies, and Nurse-Family Partnership for qualifying fi rst-time mothers. Deliver locally! Accepting new and returning patients. Call today! 828.287.6100 221 Callahan-Koon Road, Spindale, NC 28160 ROSS ROSS WINDOWS WINDOWS THE BEST FOR LESS! CALL FOR ESTIMATE 828-437-4848 • DOUBLE PANE • FULLY WELDED • FREE LOW E GLASS ARGON GAS LIFETIME WARRANTY ©Community First Media Community First Media "up to 101 u.i." CALL FOR $$$BEST PRICE$$$ A sixth grade student at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (TJCA) is spending most of her time in a hospital bed at Levine Children's Hospital, Atrium Health in Charlotte awaiting a heart transplant. Addisyn Byers (Addi), the daughter of Melanie Earley of Forest City and T.J. Byers of Shelby, has a genetic heart disease. Addi was put on the heart transplant list a few weeks ago after her heart function continued to decrease. Her mother said Addi is in good spirits. "But she is getting a little stir crazy," Melanie said. Addi was able to walk outside on Sunday for the fi rst time and when her younger siblings visit, she goes downstairs to visit them in the lobby. Melanie said her daughter does get out of breath if taking long walks She is allowed adult visitors in her room if they are not sick and if they wear a mask. "She asked the doctor lots of questions and says she has faith that God is going to get her through this," Melanie said. Melanie said on Wednesday, February 23, Addi is on the highest priority list to get a new heart. When she was fi rst admitted to the hospital just a few weeks ago she was in a lower priority category but as her heart function has decreased steadily, she is now at the top of the list. Even with her on the fi rst priority list, it could be days before she gets a heart. The average wait for a heart transplant could be 51 days, but Melanie believes and prays it will be much sooner. Addi's little brother, Grady, 6, was just four months old when he began having problems with his heart function. "He had the same heart defect but medicine helped him. It has not helped Addi," Melanie said. Grady coded four times during the early days of his illness when he was four months old. "She (Addi) watched all these miracles and it has helped her faith," Melanie said. The childrens' grandfather, had a heart defect and when he was 17 years old underwent a heart transplant. He passed away at age 45 due to a heart attack several years ago. Fortunately a third child Rylee, 7, is not affected by the heart illness. "I've seen God do miraculous things with hearts (physically and spiritually), I will not start doubting His good and perfect plan now. He is so good," Melanie said. Melanie is a kindergarten teacher at TJCA and is working as much as possible. Melanie's mother and others share time with Addi in the hospital so Melanie can work when it is possible. "I have a lot of support," she said. While Addi is in the hospital with her support team there, her school friends and staff and family are home helping to raise money to help with expenses. There is a hot dog fundraiser on Saturday and a go fund me page begun by friend Emily Wood. The hot dog fundraiser drive-thru will begin at 11 a.m. on March 5 at the TJCA Grammar School on Broadway Street in Forest City, and continue until 2 p.m. All proceeds will go toward medical expenses and travel expenses for the family. Hot dogs, plus chips and a bottle of water and a cookie will be $5. There is also a T-shirt sale. Another friend started a go fund me page a couple weeks ago. "I've been asked by several groups to start a go fund me so that people could easily donate to Melanie and Addi as they go through this journey," Emily said. Addi could be hospitalized for months. "We, as in Melanie's closest family and friends, would like to lighten the fi nancial burden by raising as many funds as possible," Emily said. "Addisyn is an amazing little girl who brightens everyone's day, her faith is so strong and unwavering and she knows God is working a miracle in her life. Beyond money donations we ask for your constant prayer for Addi and family as they wait for her to receive a new heart and also pray for the family of the person who will soon become her donor. Thank you so much in advance for being willing to donate to such a well deserving cause," Wood said. "I am deeply saddened at the other reality of this situation," Melanie said. Addi is fully aware of the situation and that a family will lose their child in order for her to receive a heart. "I pray that this child and its family know Jesus and are fi lled with His presence," Melanie also said. Fundraisers set for young heart transplant candidate Addi Byers and her family seek prayers Article Provided By: Jean Gordon. Photos Contributed. Visit Emily Wood's go fund me page to make a contribution online and be sure to attend the fundraiser. Addi Byers surrounded by love in her hospital bed. Addi Byers. A transformative project that will improve travel and industry in Rutherford County offi cially started Monday. Crews from Wright Brothers Construction, a contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation, are building a new fi ve-mile highway from Roper Loop Road near R-S Central High School to Charlotte Road. Town, county and regional planning authorities have desired a new roadway for decades to reduce congestion, improve safety and reduce travel time for drivers using the U.S. 221 corridor near Rutherfordton. This project is one segment of a long- range goal to connect Intestate 40 to U.S. 74 with a multi-lane highway. "This has been a long time coming," Division 13 Construction Engineer Nathan Moneyham said. "This is the type of project that can improve a town and county for decades to come through infrastructure that will serve the current residents as well as future industry." The new four-lane highway includes interchanges at U.S. 64 and U.S. 74B (Charlotte Road) plus a bridge on Green Street over the bypass. The northbound and southbound lanes will be separated by a wide grass median and meet all current Federal Highway Administration safety standards. NCDOT offi cials awarded the $109.2 million contract to Wright Brothers, of Charleston, Tenn., in late December. Rutherford County residents will start seeing crews begin the construction by clearing, grubbing and grading the footprint of the project. Later this summer, other construction teams will begin building large interchange structures at U.S. 64 and U.S. 74A. Travel impacts will be minimal during 2022. "Residents and visitors, business owners and consumers will all benefi t from time savings, safety improvements and new connectivity," Moneyham said. "We are delighted to be delivering a project that so many people have been wanting for so long." 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