By Alan Van Ormer
Tribune editor

On Sunday in Salem, not only will money be raised to help with medical expenses for Kaden Konz, but his parents will also be able to tell all of those who have supported them through the past 11 months thank you.
“It is overwhelming the people who have come together to do this,” Tammy Konz said. “You have to swallow your pride to allow someone to do this great thing.”
Her husband, Matt Konz, said it is hard to believe that there are so many people out there who care about Kaden and us that they would go through that much to help us.
A benefit breakfast, silent auction and bake sale is slated from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Salem Armory for Matt and Tammy Konz and their 11-month-old son, Kaden, who has had multiple health complications since being adopted. The funds are being raised to help with the family’s medical bills.
“With all the medical procedures and long neo-natal intensive care stay that Kaden had in Utah and his additional medical issues and hospital stays since coming home, the medical expenses are overwhelming,” said Rosalie Riswold-Brende, who has become close friends since Matt Konz starting teaching in the Baltic School District. “By having the benefit, we hope to alleviate that burden somewhat so Matt, Tammy and Kaden can enjoy being a family and grow the wonderful relationship of mother, father and son.”
The McCook Central FFA will be serving pancakes and sausage during the event.
Items for the silent auction and raffle have been coming from businesses in Salem, Mitchell, Madison, Baltic, Sioux Falls, Montrose, Humboldt, Hartford and Dell Rapids.
“The community support so far has been awe inspiring,” Brende said.
Items being donated include gift certificates to furniture stores, jewelry stores, hotel stays, movies, auto detailing, eating establishments, tanning, entertainment including skiing and baseball, and numbered art prints, quilts and baskets of goodies.
Families have already provided funds and also have provided food donations for the bake sale.
The Konz’ live in Dell Rapids and have just celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary. Kaden will celebrate his first birthday on Oct. 13.
The family adopted Kaden after going through unsuccessful fertility treatments for three years. They started the adoption proceedings in February 2007. In October 2008, the duo drove to Utah to watch the birth of their child.
“We were very lucky we got placed with a child so quickly,” Tammy Konz said.
When Kaden was born he was having trouble breathing and was found to have under-developed lungs. He was moved to a larger hospital in Utah and received medication to develop the lungs.
The Konz’ were expecting to stay about two weeks, but then the family found out that Kaden was having tissue problems in his intestinal tract and bowel. Kaden was cut off all feedings for 14 days. He was given nutrients internally to keep him alive.
He was in the hospital from Oct. 13 to Nov. 16. After that, Kaden was in the emergency room at least seven times for breathing problems.
“We have seen improvements the last several months,” Tammy Konz said. “We haven’t been in the hospital since April.”
The prognosis is that Kaden will be better within the next two years and there should be no long term effects, according to the Konz.
Tammy Konz said the ordeal has been tough. “Being that far away from home without family and friends was difficult,” she said. “It was tough just being able to see him.”
Matt Konz said it was disappointing knowing they had been there two weeks already and he had to get home and get to work. “Your mind was going different ways,” he said. “The first thought was getting the care for him.”
Konz, who is also a volleyball coach at Baltic, used teaching and coaching as a way to cope with being away from his family during that time.
The future looks bright for Kaden.
“All check ups are doing well,” Tammy Konz said. “The doctors think it will take a couple of years and he will be fine.”