Burr Ridge Cub Scouts Raise Money For Seven-Year-Old Born With Hydrocephalus

Seven-year-old Lizzie Bozarth was born with aqueductal stenosis. Normally, cerebral spinal fluid surrounds a person's brain and spinal cord acting as a cushion to protect the brain. In a normal human central nervous system, CSF flows freely between the brain and spinal cord, delivering nutrients to the brain, removing waste and compensating for changes in the amount of blood in the brain.

In Lizzie’s case, the natural drain between the brain and the spinal cord, called the aqueduct of Silvius, is too small to allow her CSF to flow as it should. This caused the fluid to back-up and put pressure on her brain, a condition known as hydrocephalus. As a result, parts of Lizzie's brain were damaged, and other parts did not have a chance to form. This caused her to develop cerebral palsy, epilepsy, hip displaysia, scoliosis and cortical visual impairment.

Lizzie can not walk or talk, needs a feeding tube to help her swallow and a wheelchair to get around. Even so, friends of the Bozarth family say Lizzie is a very happy person.

Her 10-year-old brother is a member of Cub Scouts Pack 69 in Burr Ridge, which is hosting a spaghetti dinner at Friday to raise funds to help pay for Lizzie's medical costs.

"[The family] has expenses beyond what most people can handle," said Roger Havlick, the assistant cub master for Cub Scout Pack 69. "Insurance only covers so much."

Lizzie's mother Jennifer said that they feel lucky, because their insurance company has been good about paying for things that are medically necessary, although she would like to be able  to afford additional therapies for Lizzie to help develop Lizzie's motor skills.

The spaghetti dinner benefit will take place Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are $6.00 per person or four for $20. The ticket price includes a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, salad, garlic or regular bread, lemonade, fruit punch or coffee. There also will be to-go containers availabe for those who do not have time to stay for the fundraiser. 

Cub Scout leaders will be having a silent auction. Fifty percent of the money raised will go toward winning names drawn and 50 percent will go to the Bozarth family.  The Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will be having a bake sale with 100 percent of the profits going to Bozarth family.

Those who would like to make a donation to the family can mail a check made out to Pack 69, with "Lizzie" in the memo line, to St. Helena's at 7600 Wolf Road, Burr Ridge, IL 60527.