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Kiley Conrad and Tyler Roysdon have never met, listen to different music and are separated by 10 years. But they have at least one thing in common.

Their parents need financial assistance.

Conrad, 21, was born with microphthalmia, a defect that left her with no eyes. Since she never has walked, Conrad uses a wheelchair, and now her parents — Wayne and Marla Conrad — are unable to lift her in and out of the bathtub. Their bathroom, built in the mid-1950s, is too small to accommodate the wheelchair and two adults.

It takes both parents to lift Kiley because she's "dead weight," her mother said.

So Marla — like only a mother could — carries buckets of water into her daughter's bedroom and gives her sponge baths on the floor.

The Conrads have contacted numerous social agencies, but so far — mainly because Kiley is 21, not, say 12 — have received no assistance with building a new, larger bathroom, Marla said.

What would a new bathroom mean to the Middletown family?

"Everything," Marla said Thursday, March 6. "It would mean the world to me — an answer to a prayer."

If you're able to help the Conrads, call (513) 422-8552.

Medical bills mounting as boy fights to survive

It'll be hard to ever look at a blister the same way after what Tyler Roysdon and his family have endured.

Tyler, 11, is a fourth-grader at Pennyroyal Elementary School in Franklin and right now he's fighting for his life.

An infection born in a foot blister has spread throughout his body, said Jennifer Decker, a family friend.

Two weeks ago, Tyler, who played football this fall, was admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Care at Children's Medical Center in Dayton and placed on a ventilator. He has been diagnosed with encephalitis, septic shock and staph aureus.

In layman's terms, Tyler's a mess.

Decker, an EMT for the Joint Emergency Medical Service, is partners with Tyler's mother, Melissa.

She can't stand back and watch. The mother in her won't allow that to happen.

"It could be my child, my family," Decker said.

So Decker is spearheading a fundraising effort for the Roysdons. Even though Tyler's parents Mark and Melissa Roysdon work and have insurance, Decker worries about the deductible and the "mounting expenses," she said.

"The least of their worries should be medical bills," Decker said.

An account in Tyler's name has been opened at Fifth Third Bank and Decker said all donations will be earmarked for medical expenses.

Franklin firefighters also will hold a "Fill The Boot" fundraiser throughout the city on March 16.

For more information, call Jennifer Decker at (513) 546-2229.

Contact this

columnist

at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.