Benefit set for ailing 8-month-old

Finnley Grace Foster is now 8 months old.

She had a normal birth and the first few months of her life were relatively uneventful.

But then her parents, Pat Foster and Katie Whitmore, noticed a rash on her body. At first, doctors said there was nothing to worry about, but the rash grew more pronounced.

She began to vomit. Her white blood cell count went out of kilter.

The next few weeks have resulted in a terrifying and exasperating series of trips to hospitals in Havre, Great Falls and Seattle as doctors struggled to find a cause, and still do.

Doctors' first feared that it was leukemia. Rashes are often a sign of cancer in the body. All tests proved negative. Signs are now that Finnley has some kind of serious immune deficiency. But there are thousands of deficiencies. Finding out which one she has is not easy.

Finnley has undergone all kinds of tests that have failed to indicate just what the problem is, though Seattle doctors say they are hopeful they will locate the problem.

They have eliminated all of the more common forms of immune deficiencies.

A doctor told Katie that it is likely an immunity problem, "a very rare form" of the disease.

All of this has caused a great deal or emotional and financial stress on the parents.

Katie has quit her job at Independence Bank so she can stay at home with Finnley. Pat is an independent contractor, and he would like to stay at home with Finnley as well, but he is now the family's sole supporter.

Friends hope to provide emotional comfort to the family, and Saturday night they hope to help out financially, too.

A benefit to help pay for travel costs, lost work time and the many other expenses the family has had to endure will take place at 6 p.m. at Pep's Bar and Lanes, 53 Johanne Ave. in downtown Big Sandy.

For $5, people will be well-fed.

An array of gifts will be auctioned at live and silent auctions. There will be a 50/50 and a raffle.

Among the benefit items: A 3-D archery target (including a hat and vest), a weekend at Fort Peck Theater, a Missouri River Cabin raffle, multiple canvas and framed art prints, photography certificates, a 12- string guitar, wine and coffee baskets, Bobcat and Grizzly items, and a Marc Mariani-signed Chicago Bears jersey.

The Missouri River weekend is being provided by Katie's family. Tickets are one for $25 and five for $100.

People not attending the benefit can buy them at Independence Bank and J.M. Donoven Designs in Fine Jewelry in Havre, Walleye Tavern in Fresno, Pep's in Big Sandy, Hi-Line Tavern in Hingham and other taverns along the Hi-Line.

Haily Donoven, a co-worker at Independence Bank, is one of the organizers, said businesses and friends have been generous in donating time and money to the cause. She promises a good time to all who attend. Donoven and Josh Danreauther, owner of Peps, are working together to put on the benefit.

Katie and Pat have learned to give her immunoglobulin infusions every Thursday. They take her to the hospital on Mondays.

They have to keep a close eye on Finnley, making sure that her contact with people is limited for fear that an infection will spread.

"That will get harder during the winter flu season," Katie said. "Everyone who comes in contact with her will have to have gotten a flu shot."

The support makes it easier for them to get through tough times, Katie said.

The uncertainty of it all is the hardest part," she said.

"It was so good to hear that it wasn't cancer," she said. "But then we had to endure the uncertainty. This has been the hardest part of my life."

Do you want to help Finnley Grace Foster family in their fight against an unknown disease?

Attend the benefit at 6 p.m. at Peps in Big Sandy 6 p.m. Saturday

Donate money to a fund set up for Finnley at Independence Bank in Havre.

Donate money at a Go Fund Me account set up for Finnley: https://www.gofundme.com/x6tnh4

Buy raffle tickets for a Missouri River Weekend at various locations around Havre and the Hi-Line.