Team roping, blood drive benefit honors infant | People

Story by Haley E. Haile

December 18, 2011 brought a “Gift from God.” Her name is Mati – meaning ‘Gift from God”—Jean Moorehead. It was evident from the time that Mati was still in the womb that she was a miracle, and was being sent to help the world.

Friends and family of Mati, a baby from close lying Cleburne County who is undergoing chemotherapy right now, are holding a benefit team roping at White County Fair Grounds in honor of Mati Moorehead to help with the costs of the treatment. The roping will begin at 11:00 on March 3, 2012 with a $10 a man buy-in and a 50% payback. During the roping a Red Cross Blood Drive will be present to take blood donations for the Red Cross blood bank. There will also be a live auction, bounce houses for the kids, and a concession stand.

Kara and Brian Moorehead of Concord had been blessed with two children, Emma who is four and Jasper who is 17 months, when they found out that they were being blessed one more time. After Kara reached the 14 week mark in her pregnancy, the family was shocked to learn that this little baby, still growing in mom, was diagnosed with spina bifida.

However, they soon learned that Mati did not have spina bifida, but an Altman Type I Sarcrococcygeal Teratoma, a tumor located at the tailbone.

Mati was born on December 18 and she went through surgery December 19 to have it removed. Two weeks after the surgery, the Moorehead family received a phone call telling them that the tumor was benign, or noncancerous. Four days later the family received yet another call, this one telling them that a mistake had been made and that the tumor was, in fact, cancerous.

“It was such an emotional rollercoaster ride,” said Kara. “All we could wonder was if there was something we could have done different.”

It was soon after this emotional turmoil that Kara found a scripture that brought a peace to her and Brian. The beginning of chapter nine in the Gospel of John is about Jesus and his disciples finding the man that was born blind. When Jesus was asked if it was the sins of the man or his parents that caused him to be blind he replied,

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

“Mati was created exactly the way God wanted her to be,” said Kara. “And I have been blessed to help show the amazing strength of God.”

Mati’s treatment consists of three trips, taking place every three weeks, to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital where she spends three days receiving chemotherapy. Mati received her first round of chemotherapy on January 26, 2012. Her second treatment was given on February 7.

“I never knew the need for blood until I was put into this situation,” said Kara. “Now that Mati has had to have blood transfusions, I see the vast need for donations of blood for all blood types.”

Anyone and everyone is encouraged to donate blood for the blood bank. All blood types will be accepted and are needed, and it can be donated in honor of Mati and her fight.

“I feel that one reason God sent us Mati was to help everyone see that it doesn’t matter the age, there is always someone who needs some kind of help; and, there is always someone, no matter the age, that can help,” said Kara.

For any additional information about the benefit or blood drive needed, please contact Tara Pankey at 501-206-7004.