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mallwood@beaufortgazette.com
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Tina Turner considers herself a woman of faith, but her 12-year-old son, James Altobello, has taught her more about
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spirituality than she ever could have imagined.
"My son has more faith -- and I'll probably cry during this part -- than anybody I've ever seen in my life," said Turner, who attends Lowcountry Christian Fellowship in Grays Hill. "Through all his life, and through all of these battles that he's been through, he tells everybody that everything's going to be OK, one way or another, no matter what God decides to do. He is fully trusting in God, and he keeps a smile on his face. I am very proud of him."
James suffers from osteomyelitis, an infection of bone or bone marrow usually caused by bacteria. Diagnosed with epilepsy at 2-weeks-old, James had surgery in 2005 to prevent his epileptic seizures, which, despite medication, were occurring more than 20 times a day.
While the surgery stopped the seizures, he began having sores on his head at the beginning of this year. Turner took her son to the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, where she was told in August that James was suffering from chronic osteomyelitis, which had eroded a large portion of his skull. The condition went undiagnosed for three years.
"James is remarkably upbeat with a terrific, positive attitude at all times," Dr. Mark Lee, a surgeon at the Medical College of Georgia, said via e-mail. "He is a real inspiration for all of us who have been involved with his care."
Turner and James' stepfather, Rodney Turner, have alterered their work schedules to take care of James, who is home schooled and on intravenous antibiotics for 12 weeks. Turner's other child, Chyanne, 7, also is home schooled.
"She has grown up faster than most children due to all that James has been through," said Turner. "She handles it all pretty well. She looks out for her brother. She always has."
Turner said her family believes in the power of prayer, and they have done lots of praying for James.
"We have several prayer chains going," Turner said. "Also, he has a former teacher whose husband goes overseas on occasion. We've got people outside of the country (with) prayer chains out for him."
As a doctor, Lee said there is "no doubt" in his mind that faith can play a role in a patient's mood or recovery.
Although Turner and her son have the support of family, the emotional ordeal has taken a toll on them financially. On Oct. 17, Gospel Light Christian Ministries hosted a benefit for James that Turner said raised around $155. A second fundraiser will take place today from 1 to 4 p.m. at Lowcountry Christian Fellowship. The event will feature $7 spaghetti plates and a performance by Christian band Vessel of Honour.
Turner said James does have disability Medicaid, but that Medicaid chooses what it will pay for. She said her son has to wear masks and gloves when he goes outside because his white blood cell count could drop at any moment, and Medicaid is not supplying many masks.
As a doctor, Lee said that there is "no doubt" in his mind that faith can play a role in a patient's mood or recovery.
"There are eye surgeries that he's had in the past that (Medicaid) still haven't paid for that are on my credit, and people are still calling me for money," said Turner. "(Medicaid) didn't know if they wanted to pay for his hospital bed. I have not heard from them on that. The hospital bed rental is $200 a month. He also has a wheelchair, which Medicaid did approve."
In addition to monetary donations, the family is asking for items such as clothes, groceries, gas and phone cards to assist with their monthly bills and costs incurred due to lost wages and travel to and from Augusta for James' treatment.
"He's been through a lot, so we're asking for assistance to keep things running smoothly, since he has several more surgeries ahead of him," said Turner. "I work for Beaufort County Disabilities & Special Needs, and they have been supportive."
Turner said James' home intravenous antibiotic treatment ends Nov. 27, at which point doctors will see if his osteomyelitis has cleared up.
If the infection is gone, then James will begin a process of several surgeries where doctors will perform bone grafts on his skull.
Lee said that James' prognosis is "excellent," but and that the reconstructive surgery to repair the defect in his skull will probably take about 6 months.
His prognosis will depend on how well the antibiotic treatment works.
"The infectious disease doctor told us that he hopes this treatment does help this little boy, those were his words to the surgeon," said Turner, who added that the hardest thing for her son has been not being able to go outside much. "He keeps his faith, (but) he does have some depression at times."
Turner said that she owns one computer and is trying to get her son a laptop so he can share his story with other children. "The Internet is a fabulous way to do that," she said. "That is something that he's expressed that he definitely wants to do, and that was another reason for us to do this fundraiser. He wants to affect other people's lives."
Turner added that she doesn't know where she would be without faith, and this is reflected in her son, who is able to attend Sunday services at Lowcountry Christian Fellowship with the assistance of his family.
"He doesn't want to hurt anybody else's feelings, and he wants everybody to know that God knows what He's doing," said Turner. "Faith is the only thing that's kept us held up and holding together.
"James has made it easier on me because of his faith. It has played a very strong role in this."
HELPING JAMES
WHAT: James Altobello fundraiser and concert
WHEN: 1-4 p.m. today
WHERE: Lowcountry Christian Fellowship church,
2754 Trask Parkway, Grays Hill
COST: $7
DETAILS: 843-473-2018
A donation account also has been set up for James at Palmetto State Bank
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