News 12 at 6:00, September 6, 2008

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. --- Imagine owing more than a million dollars in medical bills just to save your baby. Well that's the struggle one Edgefield family is facing, but a big fundraiser is here to help.

It's a story about helping others.

"I'm just so glad to be doing it for them," said Lynn Thomas, one of three women in charge of Gospel 'N' Games in North Augusta. It's a day of fun, music, prizes, and games, but it's the cause that touches so many.

"The Marchants did everything right. This could happen to anybody. They had gotten her flu vaccine and she still fell victim to influenza A and B," Susie Stewart said.

Back in February 2-year-old Paris Marchant was attacked by two strings of the flu, which collapsed her lungs. Paris spent two months in a coma and a total of four months in the hospital. Paris recovered, but her family had to face something else.

"The hospital bills were just astronomical. So we're here, doing what we can," Thomas said.

But it's not just hospital bills-- the constant care continues. Lynn says they have nursing care for Paris 7 days a week, 8 hours a day. Not to mention physical therapy to get her eating and talking again. Lynn even wrote a book about Paris and her recovery, and she's donating the money to help pay for Paris's medical bills.

"She is just so special and wonderful. She's touched a lot of lives, she's a miracle. She's absolutely a miracle to even be alive right know," Thomas said.

A miracle, who's family now needs another miracle to pull through and that's why so many are inspired to help.

"It's more than anybody could pay. It's more than anybody could pay, but what parent wouldn't. You do that. It's your child, you do it," Stewart said.

There's still time to head out to the event. It goes till 8:00 tonight at Merriwether Middle School in North Augusta. Tickets are $10.