Tune in on December 11 & 12 for Variety's Two Days of Compassion Radiothon presented by Hy-Vee on Newsradio 1040 WHO and 106.3 KXNO on the Iowa Sports Radio Network, along with KDAT in eastern Iowa.
Eight-year-old Bentley from Des Moines, Iowa, faced a medical emergency that no family could ever prepare for. His mother, Ashley, brought him to the hospital after noticing unusual behavior—and within hours, everything changed. Bentley began experiencing seizures every five seconds and lost the ability to walk. A high fever and sudden neurological deterioration prompted a series of urgent tests—including MRIs, X-rays, and a spinal tap. Specialists eventually determined that Bentley was facing ADEM, a rare autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain and spinal cord.
Bentley spent six days in a coma, followed by a month in the hospital and two and a half months at ChildServe. When he arrived, he could not walk, move his arms, or feed himself. He required a feeding tube and wheelchair, and he faced a long road of intensive rehabilitation to regain the mobility and basic functions he once had.
Despite these challenges, Bentley’s progress has been nothing short of remarkable. Today, he participates in seven therapy sessions every week, and he is walking, moving, and even able to stand up on his own. Milestones that once felt uncertain.
Throughout this experience, isolation and disruption weighed heavily on the family. With two other children at home, Ashley and her husband found themselves constantly torn — only one parent was allowed to stay with Bentley at a time, meaning the siblings were often without mom or dad for extended periods. The exhaustion, emotional strain, and financial stress of missed work compounded the difficulty.
That’s when the Compassion Fund stepped in. A social worker at ChildServe connected Ashley to Variety’s support system, resulting in meaningful assistance — including a car seat gift card that helped the family secure an essential item they couldn’t otherwise afford during that challenging time.
Ashley, Bentley's Mom, describes the feeling of receiving support as emotional and humbling:
When you're in a situation where you truly need something, and you're already overwhelmed, it makes a world of difference. There are people out there who care and who are helping another family get something they can’t get on their own.
Ashley, Bentley's Mom
For families like Bentley’s, those who donate to the Compassion Fund are more than contributors — they are lifelines. As Ashley shared, donors become “somebody’s savior.”
She hopes others will consider giving in the same spirit of empathy:
“If you were in someone else’s shoes — if your child needed help — wouldn’t you want someone to care? That’s why this matters.”
Thanks to the Compassion Fund, Bentley and his family felt supported, seen, and strengthened by a network of caring individuals who believe in community and compassion. And today, Bentley’s steps — taken one at a time — are a testament to the power of that kindness.
Two Days of Compassion
Variety's annual Two Days of Compassion Radiothon presented by Hy-Vee raises funds each year to help Iowa's critically ill children experiencing a long hospital stay.
This year, on December 11 & 12 tune in on Newsradio 1040 WHO and 106.3 KXNO on the Iowa Sports Radio Network, along with KDAT in eastern Iowa to hear heartfelt stories of why the Compassion Fund is so important for Iowa's critically ill children.
