Last month we introduced you to 4 year old Tarrell Sutherland.
He was born with rare condition called icthyosis – a painful and unsightly
condition in which his skin basically falls off everyday – leaving his
flesh raw and vulnerable to infection. His story touched the nation and there
has been an outpouring of financial support. He needs to be in Louisiana
to seek medical treatment for his condition and Azizi Hoy and Clive Myers are
pooling their creative talents to help. Azizi is the Mini Miss Universe and
Clive was a finalist in the Next Level competition. They have organized
a benefit concert for Tarrell tomorrow night at the BTL Constitution Park.
It starts at 6 and will feature Clive and Azizi in addition to other Next Level
contestants Deborah Pitts, Tricia Gabourel, Denise Castillo in addition to Christine
Flowers, Shantay Zetina, and Voices in Harmony. Azizi told us today why she
just had to do something.
Azizi Hoy,
“And when the picture of the child came on and the mom started talking,
I got very sad and I was surprised about what’s happening with the little
boy and his skin and even how his heart is failing him which is even worse.
I felt the pain of the little boy, you don’t he can’t go to school,
he barely does anything, it is hard for him to sit down and stuff like that.
And later that day I went to my mom and told her and she said I knew I shouldn’t
have made you watch that news. But then I told her mom, I should do something
about. For example I have my piggy bank saving for two years and I decided why
don’t I give it up.
And so me and her began counting it and we found a big amount and she said
that is a good idea and so driving the next morning we met Clive Myers from
NICH and we told him if he watched the news and he said no. We told him about
what’s happening on the news and stuff and what I was going to give my
piggy bank. Well he said no don’t give your piggy bank as yet, let’s
start something like a concert program or something like that and I told him
well that’s a great idea and let’s start that. We decided that from
the money we get, we will try to give it to the mom and see if she could get
medicine at least to help him, even if it doesn’t come off but to make
the itching or whatever stop.
My hope is that he gets better and I am not thinking no negative thoughts
about this, I just everything to go fine and that is why we are inviting the
public to come out.”
Tarrell’s mom Nicole McDougal says they still are in Belize but
hope to fly to Louisiana within the coming weeks. Tarrell will receive free
medical treatment at an army specialist center. His condition isn’t curable
but it is manageable. And again, if you want to help, the benefit concert for
Tarrell tomorrow is 6 pm at the BTL Constitution Park. It starts at 6.
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