Published: April 18, 2008 10:39 am      

Baldwin benefit scheduled for tonight

Imagine developing a severe, debilating headache that starts suddenly and never stops.

The mother of a Cooke County girl said her daughter knows firsthand what it feels like to suffer inexplicable and ongoing pain.

Bridget Baldwin, 11, was a Callisburg elementary student who earned good grades and enjoyed spending time with friends when she was diagnosed with New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH), her mother, Ronda Baldwin said.

Following the onset of her persistent headache, Bridgett’s life has changed.

Baldwin said Bridget loves animals and plans to be an animal behavorialist, but since she got sick, Bridget has been on a homebound study program administered by her elementary school.

Because of her pain, attending school with her classmates became impossible for Bridget.

“Prior to her illness, Bridget was a very active 11 year-old who enjoyed school and enjoyed spending time with friends,” Ronda Baldwin wrote of her daughter. “She enjoys playing outdoors. She is a very creative little girl. She misses going to school and participating in activities she loves.”

Baldwin said Bridget is headed to a metroplex hospital next week for yet another round of treatment and tests — many of which are designed specifically for Bridget. Doctors hope their treatment combinations eventually ‘break’ Bridget’s headache and allow her to return to the kind of life she knew before she got sick.

Friends and associates of the Baldwins have scheduled a barbecue dinner fund raiser for the family.

The event — which includes an auction — is set for 5-8 p.m. Friday at Callisburg Elementary School.

Candy Boen, a close friend of Baldwin, said the fund raiser is to help with expenses associated with Bridget’s medical treatment.

Boen said the event is more than just a ordinary fund raiser with extraordinary items up for bid during the auction.

Auction items include a registered Brangus bull, one week in a two-bedroom Galveston condominium, a ride for two in a Lifestar medical helicopter, a rick of Pecan firewood, a fish fryer, a full body massage, retail store gift cards and many other items.

In addition to the dinner and auction, organizers are planning to hold a children’s talent show, carnival-style games and a cake walk.

Some local volunteer firefighters plan to be at the fund raiser along with a Lifestar helicopter crew and helicopter which is scheduled to be open so guests to take a look inside.

Video game fans can also show off their Guitar Hero 3 prowess on Nintendo Wii or Playstation 3 gaming systems set up for the fund raiser.

Raffle tickets are available from Callisburg teachers or the Callisburg school offices as well as at the event.

Monetary donations can be made to an account set up for Bridget Baldwin with Nascogo Federal Credit Union, 1312 Lawrence St., Gainesville.