EDWARDSBURG — Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago is world-renowned for helping children by utilizing unique or special procedures. In January 2017, it became the first hospital in the United States to implant a smaller version of a total artificial heart. The surgery was on an 11-year-old child.

The hospital’s reputation is part of the reason Kori Woods and her husband took their son, Reilly, who attends school in Granger, there for a second opinion after their first doctor in Indianapolis recommend a surgery that they saw as “pretty invasive.”

The diagnosis Reilly received at Lurie was gastroparesis, a disorder where the stomach takes too long to process food. He instead throws up much of what he eats. To see if the doctor’s recommended surgery will be effective, it first needs to be tested, which is done by injecting botox into Reilly’s pyloric valve.

There is just one problem:

“Our insurance will not approve it because it’s botox and it’s considered cosmetic, even though it’s on the inside of his body,” Woods said. “We have been fighting with insurance now since March 3 when we got the diagnosis, and our insurance keeps denying the procedure.”

Without assistance from their insurance company, Woods says the botox injections are too expensive for her family to pay for on their own.

“So we have no choice but to wait for insurance, but because we’re seeing a doctor in Chicago we often have to go there, stay over and the doctor bills are just mounting and getting pretty drastic at this point,” Woods said.

To help her family out, Gateway Nutrition in Edwardsburg is hosting a cardio drum-a-thon. The goal of the event is to raise enough money to bring the Woods’ hospital bills down to a more manageable level.

The Cardio Drumming Drum-A-Thon will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 24. Gateway Nutrition is located at 68943 Gateway Drive. The cost to participate is $20. Cardio drumming is an exercise where participants place a large exercise ball on a bucket and rhythmically use drumsticks to hit the ball and the floor.

“Our coaches will be up front leading [the workout],” Wood said, who is a cardio drumming coach at Gateway. “Our plan is to have it outside. We’re very hopeful that the weather holds out for us and we can go outside. People can come and go as they please: New people who have never drummed before and regular people who regularly work out of gateway nutrition. It’s open to all ages: anyone can join.”

There will be a band playing at the event for people to drum to.

In addition to cardio drumming, there will be 11 to 12 vendors there selling items such as food and T-shirts. There will also be a bouncy house there for children and a raffle.

“We’re going to have all types of fun things going on, so even if you’re not into the fitness part, come [and check it out],” Woods said. “Just come and get to know the community and what Gateway has to offer… and support a good cause while you’re there.”