By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
Noah Bard is well known in the Crestline community as Mr. Hospitality. Last year, as a 16-year-old, he rode in the 2023 Jamboree Days Parade. He is often seen throughout town in stores, meeting people and waving at traffic on Lake Drive. Noah loves to greet people with “Hi, I’m Noah, what’s your name?” He is so big-hearted he spreads joy with those he interacts with throughout the community, and they leave with a smile.
A community fundraiser with music by DJ Daniel C. from the Rim Sports Bar, who donated his sound system and music, was successfully held on Sunday, Oct. 6 at the San Moritz Lodge to raise some funds to help the Bard family financially survive Noah’s upcoming and necessary heart transplant. The money for the Bards was raised through raffles, food sales and donations.
Noah Bard was born with a condition called Williams Syndrome, a multisystem genetic and developmental disorder, which includes serious cardiovascular issues. He is now 17 and graduated from high school last June, but Noah now desperately needs a heart transplant. Without the operation Noah will not survive.
Noah’s doctors at UCLA want to perform his heart transplant soon, while he is still under pediatric care, when he is more assured of coverage and will have the same doctors that have cared for him for so long. Noah has been undergoing pre-operation testing and tissue matching as he awaits a donor.
Noah Bard and his extended family.
Fortunately, Noah’s parents, Andrew and Jennifer, do have good health insurance for the operation but, of course, there is a co-pay. What the community can do to assist Noah is to help the family with the added living, transportation and food expenses that go along with numerous medical appointments off the mountain. The cost of gasoline, wear and tear on vehicles, meals on the road, time off from work and occasional overnight stays all add up, and are unfortunately not covered by their insurance.
Inspired to raise the funds to help the family, community member Vicki Vargas coordinated this fundraiser for Noah. He was able to be there, offering “Noah Joy” to all. There were heart-shaped sunglasses, heart-hand pins and many ways to make donations. Noah did a money dance and spoke to the crowd, who enjoyed his positive attitude. He had many of his friends from school attending, as well as grandparents and other family members come up from down the hill as well.
Foxhound Video Production Studio in Crestline produced a short video on Noah while he was in town last month, including a visit to Goodwin’s Market where he interacted with many local residents as the camera rolled. The video was shown during the fundraiser. Goodwin’s Market has promised to show the video on their upstairs TV screen in their lakeview observation lounge for the next week.
The timing of the transplant is dependent upon securing a proper medical match for Noah. Once he has received the transplanted heart, he and his mother will need to live within close driving distance to UCLA in Los Angeles for at least three months, in a temporary residence. This requirement will increase the family’s expenses related to the transplant operation.
The fundraiser was originally scheduled to be held a month before, on Sept. 7. It was postponed because of the Line Fire, and the evacuation warnings for the area and the very smoky air.
Some of Noah’s classmates and friends from Mountain of Promise at his fundraiser at the San Moritz Lodge.
The first chapter of Noah’s fundraiser occurred at San Marzano Ale and Wine Lounge. The owner, Ken Williams, offered a special on his Smashburgers, an offer that was taken up by more than 100 customers. When they ordered a $7 smashburger, San Marzano donated $5 of each burger sold to Noah, donating $500 to Noah. At the Oct. 6 fundraiser, Williams brought his slushie machine and raised another $100 in donations for Noah.
Buddy’s BBQ also raised money for Noah, donating over $400 from food sold. The Lake Gregory Company donated all the coffee, water and tea for those attending the event. Some people brought and donated cookies. “Without all these volunteers helping and donating, this rescheduled fundraiser would have never occurred. It was a real community event,” said Vargas.
Vargas noted they raised more than $5,000 at the event. It is anticipated this transplant will enable Noah to lead a long and healthy life so he will again be able to welcome everyone in town with a smile and his vibrant enthusiasm for life.
Those who were unable to attend the fundraiser for Noah, but who would still like to donate, may contact Vargas at (909) 338-1881 or use the QR code pictured. They are still accepting donations through Noah’s GoFundMe page, as well – bit.ly/4dN6J9r – where the Foxhound video can be seen.
0 Comments