In the summer of 2005 soon after completing the first grade, Grant Starr, an otherwise extremely healthy and energetic seven-year old, contracted a seemingly common viral infection. After several days and multiple visits to his pediatrician, Grant’s symptoms progressed to the point that he suffered seizures and was admitted to Texas Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Houston for stabilization and extensive diagnostic testing. Tragically, a CAT scan revealed the virus had attacked his brain and Grant suffered irreversible neurological damage. Grant passed away on the afternoon of August 9. While great strides have been made in medicine, the technology to quickly identify and treat new strains of bacteria and viruses is severely lagging. The doctors at Texas Children’s Hospital and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital are actively seeking to advocate on behalf of children (and adults) to make improvements in the area of diagnostic testing.
To celebrate Grant’s life and share this tragedy, the Grant-A-Starr Foundation was created with hopes of helping other children to never endure his ordeal. The Grant-A-Starr Foundation is dedicated to support organizations that focus on the advancement of diagnostic testing, and continually search for programs that will make a difference and save lives.
Following the heel of the last year, AYLUS Fort Bend Branch once again joins forces with many other organizations to participate in the 5K Run event in order to boost the awareness of hard-to-diagnose illness and help collect public funds to advance the diagnose technologies.