By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
Crestline has an unofficial greeter, a 17-year-old named Noah Bard, who always has a smile on his face and warmly greets everyone he meets. He is excellent at small talk and inquires politely about everyone with real interest. He is often seen in nice weather standing out in front of the Alpine Mall waving to passersby. He loves to go shopping with his parents so he talks with those in the stores.
Noah is so well known that in 2023 he rode in the Jamboree Days parade to great cheers, which made him very happy. Because of the heat and his health, he was unable to even attend the parade this year.
Noah just graduated from Rim High in June and will be turning 18 in November, but now is facing a serious health crisis. He already was challenged by a form of autism, which also affects his health, and he now is in need of heart surgery, probably needing a heart transplant. He is undergoing testing to determine all his medical needs, possible matches and the path forward to save his life. The family and doctors hope the operation can be performed prior to his 18th birthday as there are numerous services available for pediatric surgery patients, which means those under the age of 18 years of age.
Local resident Vickie Vargas has known Noah for a long time. She is very concerned for him and his family. Vargas has been involved in many community events through the chamber of commerce and her previous business, Designed by Faith, and is organizing a fundraiser for him and his family. The numerous trips to the hospital in Los Angeles for all the needed testing is costing the family a lot of money and taking time from their work.
Vargas has a history of doing fundraisers for local people when disaster has hit; as an example, she did a fundraiser when the antique store across the street from her business on Lake Drive burned down, over a year ago. She hopes to be able to help the Bard family in a similar way.
“Noah’s mother is driving to the hospital with Noah several times a week for testing and monitoring, and this is costing the family out-of-pocket expenses that are not in their budget and I hope the community will help me, help them.”
The fundraiser will take place on Sept. 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. on the North Shore terrace at Lake Gregory. Vargas is collecting items from those individuals and businesses who would like to donate gift baskets for raffles or make direct donations for the family’s extra expenses created by this extreme life-threatening medical condition.
Contact Vargas through her business, “How Money Works,” at 23798 Lake Drive in Crestline, or call her at (909) 567-9667 for more details or if you want to help Noah and his family with raffle gifts or through a direct donation.
“Noah will be facing great challenges in the next few months, before and after the operation, and he could use some community support right now. He is always so cheerful for us; let’s give some love back to him,” said Vargas.
0 Comments