Spaghetti dinner with a purpose

Trinity Kellum will always be different.

Her family knew shortly after she was born, something was different about their child, yet the family still considers Trinity a blessing.

Shortly after her birth, Trinity was diagnosed with lobar holoprosencephaly. HPE occurs when the brain does not divide properly into its left and right hemispheres during its development. This improper division in the brain also results in facial abnormalities as well. There are four types of HPE and the type Trinity was diagnosed with is considered a mild form of the disorder, according to the website familiesforhope.org.

Death occurs in the most severe cases of HPE, while in less severe cases, individuals have facial defects, which can affect the eyes, nose and upper lip.

Kimberly Kellum, Trinity's mom, said she is lucky that Trinity doesn't have major facial abnormalities, she has narrow set eyes, a smaller nose and curved up lip. She also said Trinity is a true blessing because most children born with HPE don't live too long after they are born.

Trinity, who is almost eight years old, cannot walk, talk or feed herself; and as she continues to grow, the need for a wheel-chair accessible van grows as well.

The family is still raising money to purchase a van, which would help the family take Trinity to more places. The vehicle they are currently using is barely meeting their needs.

So far, family and friends have raised $4,000, but with the prices of wheel-chair accessible vans starting at $23,000, it seems like a drop in the bucket.

"We haven't even started looking yet," Kimberly said.

The family figured there was no point in looking at vans until they had the money to purchase one.

This Saturday, the Eagle Riders are teaming up with Kimberly's family and friends to host a poker walk, silent auction and spaghetti dinner. The event is scheduled to take place at the Eagles, 88 N. 2nd E. Half of the poker walk proceeds will go to the family.

Sign up for the poker run will take place at 11 a.m. and the poker walk starts at noon. The last hand will be played at 4 p.m.

Those who would rather try their luck at the silent auction, will have many items to bid on. Canvas-wrapped pictures of deer and antelope are in the auction, as well as a couple of gift baskets and numerous gift certificates.

"We have a beautiful quilt that was just donated," Kimberly said. "I am also going to sell her hope T-shirts too."

Kimberly made T-shirts for the cause in several different colors, including pistachio, sapphire, white and heather gray. The T-shirts depict three circles together, which is the symbol for Trinity. The Kellums will also have a baked goods table.

Those who would like to support the family and eat dinner, can eat a spaghetti dinner for $8 a plate. Dinner starts at 4 p.m. and all proceeds of this dinner go to the family.

How Trinity's doing

"She's actually doing pretty good now," Kimberly said.

However, that was not the case in January. She got severely ill and had to be admitted into Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City to determine a cause for the seizures she experienced.

During her last visit to Primary Children's, Trinity had a urinary tract infection and a respiratory infection. After her EEG (electroencephalogram) test came back negative for seizures, the doctors didn't know what to think. Since the seizures were under control, they released her. The only problem was Interstate 80 was closed and the family couldn't get home.

While they were trying to make arrangements to stay overnight in SLC, Trinity started to get a high fever and have other symptoms. She then tested positive for Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Doctors treated her and she was released again.

Trinity is doing better now, but she will still not be returning to school.

"She's not going to school," Kimberly said. "She's always sick this time of the year."

It was a tough decision to pull Trinity out of school when she enjoys it so much, but the family cannot have her sick all the time either. In an attempt to keep her healthy through the winter and spring, the family decided to put her in summer school.