Lihu’e parents Anson and Mary Lardizabal were concerned about their son’s premature birth on Feb. 20. When their son, Christian Raymond was born at Kapiolani Medical Center on O’ahu he weighed 1 1/2 pounds, said the boy’s father. His weight,
Lihu’e parents Anson and Mary Lardizabal were concerned about their son’s premature birth on Feb. 20.
When their son, Christian Raymond was born at Kapiolani Medical Center on O’ahu he weighed 1 1/2 pounds, said the boy’s father.
His weight, however, has since climbed to four pounds due to proper care, his parents say.
But Anson, a social worker at Friendship House in Kapa’a, and Mary, a Kapa’a Middle School music teacher, now face upwards of $500,000 in medical bills related to their son’s birth.
To help cover their son’s medical cost and to help defray traveling expense for the Lardizabals to fly to O’ahu to visit their child, Friendship Club has scheduled a fundraiser at the Kapa’a Neighborhood Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 25. Spaghetti dinners will sold at $8 a plate.
“We are thankful for what they are trying to do. Whatever is generated will be appreciated,” said Anson Lardizabal. “Friendship Club is a big help, and they were kind enough to do this … I was touched.”
The medical expenses include those for extended care at Kapiolani Medical Center, where the baby has remained for continued treatment.
The Lardizabals are hoping that most of the expenses are covered by their health insurance and government health insurance programs for which they are eligible.
Lardizabal said he found out about Friendship Club’s offer to help after he and his wife returned from a trip to Las Vegas in March.
The couple had gone to Las Vegas to help a choir with the Immaculate Conception Church in Kapaia prepare for competition featuring school and church choirs.
Mary is the musical director for the church choir, which won awards and recognition. Both she and her husband are parishioners at the east Kaua’i church.
Lardizabal said Friendship Club is a nonprofit arm of Friendship House, which serves people with schizophrenia, severe depression, behavioral disorder and mania.
Members learn how to use computers, develop clerical skills, cook and work in retail stores and businesses.
Lardizabal has worked as a social worker at Friendship House, located north of Kapa’a town, for the past 10 years.
Lardizabal, who is the father of a young girl as well, is the son of Maurice Lardizabal, a retired official with the state Commerce and Consumer Affairs Department office on Kaua’i and the nephew of Al Lardizabal, a one-time finance director for Kaua’i County.
