A little more than four years ago, Margie and Tazz Barba were told their 6-month-old foster child, Tazzie, had Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Nonetheless, that didn’t deter the Barbas from adopting him and his older sister, Tazzara.
Tazzie, who is now 5, was running around Market Street on Thursday morning in search for a dinosaur toy.
“We just felt that we could take care of him and do as much as possible for him,” Margie Barba said of adopting Tazzie. “We couldn’t let go.”
Market Street invited the Barbas to help kick off their annual fundraising campaign called “Aisles of Smiles” to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
John Jameson, the Regional Vice President for The United Family, spoke to members of the media Thursday morning.
“We are proud to partner up with MDA to be a spot where guests can donate, whether it’s money at the check stands or they can buy selected items,” Jameson said. “… It’s important because it’s a disease that affects a lot of Americans. We’ve all got to pull together and help our communities.”
A previous Odessa American article detailed that guests of United Supermarkets and Market Street will be able to purchase qualifying products throughout the store with a portion of the sale being contributed to MDA. Those sales will continue throughout the month.
From Sept. 1 through Sept. 14, guests will also be able to donate any dollar amount to MDA through a donate-at-the-register campaign.
“We are spreading the awareness of his disease,” Tazz Barba said.
Margie Barba added: “There are just so many types of muscular dystrophy.”
The Barbas began foster care for Tazzie when he was 4 months old. Tazzie’s older sister, who is a carrier of Duchenne, was just over a year old.
Margie Barba said Tazzie will likely need a wheelchair between the age of 10 to 12. She also explained that Duchenne is fatal, however, gene therapy and physical therapy will help prolong Tazzie’s life.
Tazz Barba said Tazzie go to physical therapy once a week at the Permian Basin Rehabilitation Center and Tazzie has a port in his chest near his heart for gene therapy.
Though Duchenne can shorten a person’s life expectancy, Tazz Barba said he doesn’t think about it.
“We cherish every moment we have,” he said.
