By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

NEW RICHMOND - Nearly three months ago, Johnny Staton was a typical 8-year-old boy, playing soccer and going to church with his family.

But on Aug. 25, something went terribly wrong, and now he's in the hospital, attached to a feeding tube and a breathing machine.

Johnny Staton

"It's not something you expect," said Johnny's mother, Paula. "One day you're on the soccer field watching him play, and the next you're picking out the color for his wheelchair."

Johnny, complaining of stomach pain and vomiting, suffered a burst appendix that was originally diagnosed as strep throat. While on his way to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center by emergency helicopter, the infection caused him to go into cardiac arrest and left him without oxygen for nearly 20 minutes, causing brain damage, Mrs. Staton said.

He's expected to return home from Children's in two weeks. The family, including Johnny's father, Doug, and three siblings, are trying to prepare for his return.

And that has residents in this Clermont County town coming together to help.

HOW TO HELP

Donations to the Johnny Staton medical fund can be made at New Richmond National Bank. For more information on the benefit concert or how to help, contact St. Peter Catholic Church at 553-3267.

The community has been donating to an account in Johnny's name at New Richmond National Bank, and organizers have put together a benefit concert for Johnny and his family on Dec. 8 in the New Richmond High School auditorium from 4 to 7 p.m. All proceeds from the $10 tickets for the concert, which will include HotWax, a Las Vegas-style show group that has opened for Chuck Berry, the Drifters and the Four Tops, will benefit the Statons.

And the family's church, St. Peter Catholic Church in New Richmond, has been collecting donations for the family and organizing meals to take to them, said Mary Simmons, coordinator of religious education.

Mr. Staton's employer, Lawrence Hayward, a builder, has donated his expertise to construct a bedroom for Johnny. The Statons live in a 42-by-26-foot ranch home with three bedrooms, but none of them will accommodate the machinery and equipment he'll need.

Volunteers will help him construct it. Lowe's and Home Depot have offered Mr. Hayward discounts on supplies.

Mr. Hayward went to Clermont County commissioners to get building permit fees waived.

While the commissioners didn't waive the fee, they personally donated the money, about $380.

Mrs. Staton, who has spent nearly every day at the hospital and expects she'll give up her job to be Johnny's primary caregiver, has been overwhelmed with the support from the community.

As for Johnny, doctors say his prognosis is uncertain. Mrs. Staton said doctors aren't estimating the extent of his brain damage and won't know until they see how he reacts to therapy.

Still, the family is hopeful. "We see little improvements every day," she said..