Samuel Waddell is my three year old son who underwent a 15-hour brain surgery at the Cleveland Clinic on August 31 2007 to remove a dermoid cyst, present from birth.

We first found out of his situation in June while I was in the hospital recuperating from the birth of our second child, Jacob, via c-section. The E.N.T. and I had previously discussed all possibilities and now my worst nightmares were unraveling, brain surgery.

Samuel was seen for an x-ray, C.T. scan and M.R.I. at Akron Children's Hospital and a second M.R.I. at the Cleveland Clinic. The tumor eroded away a majority of Samuel's nasal bone which was reconstructed with wires, a filler and a skin graph.

Neurosurgeons removed a 4"x3" section of his frontal bone to access the cyst. The tumor had traveled along the underside lining of his brain which neurosurgeons cauterized 99.9% of it off, leaving the possibility of the tumor to resurface in the future. However this was a safer route than cutting off the cyst since they would have to cut off part of the dura (the lining of the brain) causing vital fluid around the brain to leak which is an even more serious situation.

The bone was replaced with metal plates to hold it in place. Samuel spent four days in the P.I.C.U. with immense swelling of his brain and facial tissue as well as his eyes. I slept a total of 5 1/2 hours during his stay there. I prayed with tears rolling silently down my cheeks most of the time for my son and for the other children every time I heard them crying.

Doctors are waiting until January to perform his third M.R.I. in order to analyze the condition of where the cyst was cauterized as well as check to see if his body has started to regenerate his bone over the wires in his nose. If his bone does not regenerate, he faces another surgery where a bone graph will be taken from either his skull or rib and placed at the wires, yet this too is no promise that the bone will take.

Samuel only had a less than 30% chance of retaining any sense of smell, which I am thankful to announce that it is still somewhat present. My husband and I call him the $200,000.00 baby because so far this is what his medical expenses have accrued to. Samuel has ongoing medical expenses that will continue throughout the course of his life.

Since there isn't any nasal bone Samuel needs to be watched carefully every minute of the day. One wrong bump and surgery would have to take place again. With this being said, I am physically unable to return to work as a pastry chef. My husband works 12-15 hr shifts as a chef of Case Western University in Downtown Cleveland, so a second job is out of the question. I have struggled for financial aide through the hospitals and Medicaid, pleaded with organizations and collection agencies for help, but to no avail. United Way directed me to some people to contact, most of which weren't able to help.

I have been seeing many articles of stay at home mothers who sell baked goods for extra income who have little or no training so I thought why not try? With my training in pastry and culinary arts it is worth a try. My hopes are to make money to defray Samuel's medical costs and hopefully provide some Christmas gifts to my children. I know and believe in teaching the true meaning of Christmas, yet I want my children to experience the magic of Santa Clause.

To recieve a complete list of items available or to order pastries for the holidays or any occasion, contact Jennifer Waddell at stikEbunz2@yahoo.com. I would be more than appreciative to make something wonderful for you and your family. You can also read about Samuel in the Stow Sentry's December 2nd paper.

Thank you