Published: May 12, 2009 11:16 am      

Benefit scheduled for Callisburg's baby Baker

The Care Bear Team helped newborn Landon Nolan Baker get down to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth the evening he was born. He had surgery four days later. He was on a breathing machine for 17 days and was in the hospital for five weeks.

Landon came home Easter Morning.

A benefit for Landon’s father, Callisburg High School Coach Chester Baker and Landon is this Friday, May 15, at the Callisburg High School cafeteria. A barbecue dinner will be served at 5 p.m. and an auction will take place at 7 p.m. Funds will benefit Landry Nolan and help the family with medical bills.

Landon was born with a birth defect. “He was born with his jaw too far back,” said Baker. “Surgery was needed because Landon didn’t have an airway. The surgery required placement of screws in Landon’s jaw.”

He needs to have a surgery to have all the devices removed in June,” said Baker. “He will still need another surgery later for cleft palate.”

Baker said that Landry is the first child born to him and his wife, April. “He is 8 weeks old now,” said Baker. “He was born on March 8.

Coach Chester Baker has been coaching at Callisburg High School for five years and was born and raised in Texas.

“It’s been challenging, but we’re glad to be home.” said April. “It was a long five weeks. But, he’s doing very well.”

He has a special bottle and he had to get a “g” button - a device that goes directly to his stomach.

April said that the total cost for medical bills so far is approximately $306,000. That amount has been billed to their insurance but it is not known yet how much their insurance will pay.

“I’ve paid about $1,000 out of pocket so far,” said April.

Baker said that this type of surgery for newborns has only been around in the last two years. In Texas, there have only been four of these surgeries performed for newborns.

Baker said that Landon’s doctor, Dr. Sacha Obaid of North Texas Plastic Surgery in Southlake, studied under the doctor who invented this type of surgery for newborns.

“Mary Carlisle is doing the benefit,” said Baker. “Mary has a store in Callisburg, City One Stop, and all the kids go there to eat or to get a drink.”

“Everyone knows everybody around Callisburg,” said Baker. “She (Carlisle) is the central person, so everyone asked her about what was going on.”

“Coach Baker is such a nice guy and everyone was trying to figure out what to do for him,” said Carlisle. That’s why I started the benefit for Landry.

Tickets for the benefit are Adults $8, age 12 and under $4. Raffle tickets for barbecue grill are $1 or 6 tickets for $5.

For more information call Mary Carlisle at 940-768-8283 or 668-8218.

“If anyone wants to donate anything, they can call me or bring it by the store,” said Carlisle.

“Help us to support our coach because he always supports us and supports our kids,” said Carlisle.