Upcoming events raising funds to help 5-year-old boy with heart defect in Summerville, Georgia

Hannah Cargle, left, 12, and Lexie Owensby, 13, retrieve fish from a blowup swimming pool following a fundraising event for Hannah's brother Brantley. The benefit, held in the exhibit hall at the Walker County Civic Center, featured live music, a petting zoo, wrestling and games inside, as the weather turned rainy.
Hannah Cargle, left, 12, and Lexie Owensby, 13, retrieve fish from a blowup swimming pool following a fundraising event for Hannah's brother Brantley. The benefit, held in the exhibit hall at the Walker County Civic Center, featured live music, a petting zoo, wrestling and games inside, as the weather turned rainy.

Those passing by the Walker County Civic Center Feb. 9-10 may have noticed the carnival and car show taking place on the property, but not all may have been aware of the festivity's significance.

Organized by Owensby MotorSports, the event was created to raise money for the family of 5-year-old Brantley Palmer, who was born with only half a heart, which sits on the wrong side of his chest and is turned backwards.

photo Brantley Palmer, 5, is currently awaiting a much-needed heart transplant, which relatives say could take longer than usual because he is small for a child his age. (Contributed photo)

Since coming into the life of Summerville parents Eva and Ross Palmer, the kindergartner has already undergone two open heart surgeries and was awaiting a third. But everything changed last November, when doctors discovered that Brantley's heart was only functioning at 15 percent, putting him in dire need of a heart transplant.

While the Palmers are hoping for a miracle, the waiting process has been financially taxing.

Patients in need of a transplant may often spend more than six months on the waiting list, but with travel expenses to Atlanta for medical visits piling up, insurance complications to sort out, and the family down to one income with four other children to provide for, paying the bills has become more and more difficult.

That's why Shannon Owensby, Brantley's cousin and owner of Owensby MotorSports, decided to host the event with support from several organizations within the area.

So far, through the carnival and other efforts, the community has raised more than $6,500.

photo Brantley Palmer, 5, is currently awaiting a much-needed heart transplant, which relatives say could take longer than usual because he is small for a child his age. (Contributed photo)

Advocates hope to continue that momentum through further fundraising efforts, the next of which is an online auction through Facebook titled Brantley's Heart Auction of Love, which will open for bidding March 1 and close March 8 at 6:30 p.m. The auction can be viewed at tinyurl.com/BrantleyHeartAuction.

Other fundraisers coming down the pipeline include a large car show in Chattanooga May 25; a mud bog race on Lookout Mountain April 6; and a Great Gatsby-themed black tie dinner and Texas hold 'em poker night, the dates of which will soon be announced.

In addition to aiding the family with financial burdens, Owensby said the goal is to raise enough money to be able to provide the Palmers with an in-house therapy center to help Brantley with his speech and physical therapies after his new heart is procured.

"All he's ever known is to be sick," Owensby said. "So hopefully we can raise money and he can get to live a new normal and be more healthy. To be able to run and play without struggle. To get to be able to be like the other kids."

To learn more about the upcoming events or find out how you can help, connect through the Facebook group "Brantley's Heart" or contact Owensby at 423-664-7699.

Email Myron Madden at mmadden@timesfreepress.com.

Upcoming Events