Dear Fellow BLUE KNIGHTS

 My name is Robert Pivonka, and I’m a member of the BLUE KNIGHTS - ALABAMA CHAPTER X.  I am writing to all chapters in the United States for your help. We have an Officer who desperately needs the help of the BLUE KNIGHTS. 

This is their Story-

Jordan Stover (Daughter of Officer Richard Stover) is a 12 year old girl who lives in Trinity, Alabama and attends school at West Morgan Elementary. When Jordan was born in 1995 everything seemed great, and then she had her first seizure at the age of 6 months.  Jordan started seeing doctors in Huntsville, Al, Birmingham, Al, Vanderbilt University, the Shriners Hospital, and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota . None of these Doctors gave the Stover’s a diagnosis other than developmental delays with seizure disorder.

 In September of 2007, Jordan was finally diagnosed with Glucose Transporter Deficiency Syndrome (GLUT 1 DS). This is a condition where the body does not transport enough glucose to the brain through the spinal fluid. Dr. De Vivo at Columbia University, in New York City, New York, identified this condition in 1991. Jordan is his 123rd diagnosed case World Wide! Jordan and her mom traveled to New York in December 2007 so Jordan could become part of Dr. De Vito’s study group hoping to help him find a cure.  Jordan and her mom will travel to China in April 2008 for Jordan to receive stem cell treatments .Six treatments are required at a cost of $25,900 and that does not include airfare, meals, housing, or transportation while there. In addition to her injections Jordan is required to have physical, occupational, and speech therapies for 6 hours a day, 6 days a week while there.

 The Stover’s have seen the quality of life improve in one patient with GLUT 1 DS who received this treatment. She improved to the point where she is now able to ambulate with only one cane and eight months prior to receiving this remarkable treatment she was almost totally wheelchair dependent. After talking with this family and seeing their positive results the Stover’s feel that they owe Jordan the opportunity to gain a better quality of life and have the ability to become a more “normal” teenager.

 I am sending this to all BLUE KNIGHT CHAPTERS in the United States in hope that we will help this little girl. I truly believe that if each BLUE KNIGHTS member in every chapter across the United States would send one dollar, but hopefully more through their Chapter, to the Jordan Stover Fund, Redstone Federal Credit Union, 220 Wynn Dr. Huntsville , Alabama 35893 , The BLUE KNIGHTS would make a difference in this child’s life. We have until April to raise as much as we can to support the Stover Family send Jordan to China so she can receive the treatment she so desperately needs. If anyone can do this, I know the power of the BLUE KNIGHTS can! I know we will rise to the occasion!  Your prayers for the Stover Family are also very much needed and appreciated. 

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to E-mail me at Rjpivo@Bellsouth.net

Again,  Thank you all for your time and consideration in this matter.

Lieutenant Robert Pivonka

 Remember - Among the Blue Knight members, 
        "There are no strangers, only friends you haven't met."