Bend toddler can’t walk without surgery

At 37 weeks pregnant, Traci Benjamin and her husband, Norm, found out their second son would be born with a rare genetic disorder, osteogenisis imperfecta, otherwise known as brittle bone disease.

Today, Tyrus is 15 months old, and his bones are fragile.

“I mean, I don’t know how many times in a day we worry if he fractured, or is he going to fracture? Or did I just break his rib? Did he just break his arm,” Traci said Sunday.

Attempting to stand, Tyrus fractured his bowed right femur and needs surgery soon to prevent it from displacing permanently. Traci says a Portland doctor won’t conduct the surgery, so their last resort is Chicago’s Shriners Hospitals for Children, which is willing to do it.

Traci says the biggest struggle for the family is not just on Tyrus, but his 4-year-old brother, Torin. “Having to not let Torin and him play with each other, and you know, get after him for — that is really really hard,” Traci says.

For the Benjamins, their hope is to get the surgery done at Shriners, but they need help with travel expenses. On Friday, Traci opened a GoFundMe account online — and within 24 hours, the amount went from $3,000 to $6,000.

“I’m so amazed by the outpouring of support for that, it’s amazing,” Traci said. “There’s so much more than just monetary value to it, it really…like I cant even find the words for it. It’s truly amazing.”

For now, the family hopes its story will be an inspiration for kids and parents. The main message is to celebrate Tyrus as a happy boy.

“That’s what matters,” Traci said. “If you’re in a wheelchair, it doesn’t matter — you know, any disability — as long as you’re a good person and you’re happy, and that’s what I want for Tyrus.”

To help Tyrus and the Benjamin family get to Chicago, visit http://www.gofundme.com/f2t0ug.