Mason Barto (bottom right) and his family. Photo courtesy Mindy Barto.
Towanda, PA — Flynn Energy is pleased to announce its eighth annual charity golf tournament at Towanda Country Club on June 1st, 2018. Proceeds from the event are set to go to Mason Barto and his family, residents of the area. Last year’s tournament raised more than 16 thousand dollars for Ainsleigh Carrington, who was diagnosed with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.
Leading up to the tournament, we thought we’d share a little of Mason’s story.
Mason was born on June 19, 2001. His parents were expecting a healthy baby boy, just like any other expectant parents. However, over the years, they found out that Mason had a very rare disease called CDG (congenital disorder of glycosylation) on top of the already many other diseases he had.
Not expected to live past two, Mason Barto’s will to live, amazing personality and spirit, will see him to the age of seventeen this June.
Mason is a junior in the Towanda Area School District; however, a homebound instructor teaches him at the Barto home. Due to a compromised immune system and other medical issues, he is not able to attend school at this time.
“Mason is one of a very few that have his type of CDG which makes it even more rare,” said Mason’s mother Mindy. “We travel to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to see all of his specialists. However, once a year, we try (financing available) to travel to New Orleans or California to see specialists in this field for better treatment plans.”
Mason has gone through numerous surgeries (with more to come), countless hospitalizations, many rare disease studies, and a lifetime of doctors saying, “We are sorry, but we don’t know how to fix this- there is no cure,” and many “you will nevers.” Mason has taken every “you will never” and turned it into an “I’ll show them.”
CLICK HERE to Make a Donation to Mason
It has not been an easy road for Mason, and it never will be. He has to fight for every day of his life. While some things have gotten easier with age, other activities have become more of a challenge. For example, he does not have to be on 24-hour continuous tube feeds any longer, just tube feeds 5 times per day. He got his trach taken out after 15 years and possibly, after surgery this summer, he may be able to swim under water for the first time in his life. However, as a high school student, he cannot participate in sports or march in the band. This is all part of his life, and something he and his parents work at accepting.
“Many of the studies Mason has gone through have proven to break medical grounds for other patients (children),” said Mindy. “We are just recently seeing the results of all his sacrifices, and as his parents this makes us very proud. Mason, along with his big brother Ethan are an inspiration to all, angels on Earth, my Heroes. They both deserve so much more in this life.”