A18 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015 FROM PAGE A1 BIKE: continued from page A1 recovering. “He came out walking, talking and everything was normal,” Padilla said. “We JRWWRJRKRPHRQWKH¿IWK day (after the surgery), and on the sixth morning he had a major stroke on both sides of his brain. The stroke is basically why he can’t talk, why he can’t walk and, ba- sically, isn’t normal any- more. We still don’t know what happened. The doctors call Carsyn really unique because they have talked to doctors all over the U.S., and they have never heard of this happening.” After Carsyn’s stroke, doctors said he would prob- ably only live eight to 12 months. At 4 and a half, however, he has exceeded their expectations. “Carsyn has had a rough road,” Padilla said. “He’s beaten the odds so far, and he’s lived a year and a half past the doctor’s expec- WDQF\ +H¶V D OLWWOH ¿JKW- er. They basically said he would be brain dead, which CELEBRATION: continued from page A1 status last year, and spon- sors are already signing on. Organizer George Ander- son said he has received pledges for $6,750 but expects to raise $8,000 or more. Hermiston Parks & Recreation Director Lar- ry Fetter, who is helping organize the event, said a company has already signed a contract to pay $1,500 to operate a carni- val at the event. The car- nival is new to this year’s celebration, and Fetter said it will operate the Friday and Saturday pre- ceding the Sunday event, as well. “It’s going to be re- ally exciting,” De La Cruz said. “We want to make this event as fami- ly friendly as possible. If Camiryn Culp, left, will get the chance to ride her bike beside her 4-year-old twin brother, Carsyn, if the family raises enough funds to purchase a bike with a wheelchair in front that their mother could pedal. The family has raised more than $3,000 of the roughly $5,500 cost. For more information or to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/carsyns-bike. Carsyn Culp sits on the lap of his grandmother, Marie Fraser, Wednesday in Hermiston. After suffering a massive stroke after having a brain tumor surgically removed, Culp is unable to walk or talk, but his mother, Aubbree Padilla, hopes a wheelchair bike that she would pedal would allow him to enjoy a ride beside his twin sister, Camiryn. To donate, visit www.gofundme. com/carsyns-bike. he’s not. He still smiles. The only way he commu- nicates is he cries, but he still enjoys stuff just like any other little kid does. His dad (Derek Culp) and myself basically gave him the chance of showing us what he could do instead of taking him home to let him die peacefully like the doctors said that we should have. It’s pretty amazing to see how he shows us every day how strong he is.” Carsyn Culp visits a doc- ing with it,” Padilla said. “He seems to be so much more happy, more comfortable.” She hopes he will soon enjoy the fresh air in his face when he is strapped into the wheelchair bike, which costs about $5,500 including ship- kids want to go, their par- ents will show up.” Fiesta Foods Manag- er Leo Leal and Hermis- ton police officer Erica Sandoval have contacted a variety of people who were interested in par- ticipating in the parade, which will begin at 11:30 a.m. “It’s a community event, so we want to get as many people involved as possible,” Leal said. “This thing is going to be pretty big.” De La Cruz said he expects the parade to be about four times the size of last year’s parade, and the event will also feature live music from Banda Arkangel R-15, Broncos del Norte and Forasteros de Tierra Caliente. “Those are the big ones that are going to make the attraction,” he said. “They’re top-shelf bands. All three are coming from across the order. They come and do tours in the United States. Around that time, they’re going to be touring the country, so we’re going to bring them over to the Cinco de Mayo.” The winner of a Cinco de Mayo pageant, which will take place prior to festivities, will also be announced at the celebra- tion. People interested in participating in this year’s festival should contact De La Cruz, 541- 701-4696, or Virginia Rome, 541-314-3257, for sponsorships; Leal, 509-412-2674, or San- doval, 541-561-5544, for the parade; Saul Olvera, 541-720-6024, or Jessica Arellano, 541-701-4878, for vendors; or Clara Be- as-Fitzgerald, 541-561- 4541, for the pageant. SEAN HART PHOTOS tor in Portland each month, and a recent hip surgery has made him more comfortable. “With him not walking, his hips basically popped out, both of them, so they went in and screwed them back into place, and he’s doing amaz- ping. The family has already raised more than half of the funds needed. According to the GoFundMe website cre- ated to purchase the bike, 33 people have contributed $3,160 in 15 days. “It’s amazing how many people have stepped in and already donated,” Padil- la said. “I’m hopeful, very hopeful that we’ll be able to reach that goal. It will give him and his sister something else to bond over, so that’s one of the really big reasons why I hope that we reach our goal.” Padilla said Carsyn’s medical problems have been GLI¿FXOW EXW VKH KRSHV WKH wheelchair bike will provide the opportunity to interact as a family. “I have my good days and bad, but Derek and I love our kids, so we’ll do anything for them,” she said. “That’s basically how we cope with it. Some days are tougher than others, but it’s brought our family closer in so many ways.” To donate or learn more about the fundraising cam- paign, visit http://www.go- fundme.com/carsyns-bike. SEAN HART PHOTO This tentative site plan for the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Hermiston shows the location of a carnival new to this year’s event, which will take place May 3. The top right building is Hermis- ton City Hall.