Newton and Scott County residents will have the opportunity to bid on some amazing items, listen to some good music all while supporting a good cause on Thursday, Oct. 12 at the country music benefit auction and concert for Luke Potratz. The event will be held at Todd and Erin Vowell’s Sand Ridge Barn located two miles west of Lake on Hwy 80.
Luke, the son of Rick and Paula Potratz of Brandon and the grandson of Jackie and Gail Calhoun of Forest, is being treated for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder issues.
When he was younger, Luke would wash his hands until they bled. As he got older, more issues developed. Textures of certain clothes cause him anxiety. The minute he steps in the door, he strips off immediately.
His issues had gotten so bad that his parents had to seek help.
After years of therapy with psychiatrists, psychologists and a specialist group at the University of Southern Mississippi, they decided to try out Rogers Behavioral Clinic in Nashville, Tenn. Rogers specializes in helping children with severe OCD, even those with multiple diagnoses. Luke, for example, has also been diagnosed with severe ADHD. It’s been particularly challenging because the ADHD medication can make OCD flare up.
“We are encouraged by a new DNA testing that showed while he is on the right medications, they are not at therapeutic doses,” Jackie said. “From the testing, we learned that Luke is an “ultra-rapid metabolizer” of these drugs and will likely require doses higher than most adults to achieve desired results. We are praying that making necessary changes in his medications will help him to feel better. If Luke does not have a breakthrough soon, we are going to be forced to make some very difficult decisions regarding his care.”
Jackie says that Paula, who works as a pharmacist at Walgreens in Forest, has missed 11 weeks of work, and Rick, who owns a website development and service business in Brandon, has missed three weeks of work as a website developer. An apartment in Nashville costs them $3,500 per month. All total, they are probably out $30,000 in loss of income, apartment rent and portion insurance does not cover for this type of disorder.
Jackie said that Paula asked him if he would do a project like selling chicken plates to raise money. She was emphatic that she wanted someone to get something for their money and did not want a Go Fund Me Account. Jackie used his many contacts to put together a concert and to get items to donate.
“As it turned out a good friend and associate, Danny Rasberry, of the Rasberry Producers Group, has connections with several country music artist & offered to provide the entertainers (Ronnie McDowell, Amber Hayes and Jeff Bates) at no cost to me,” Jackie said.
Paula and Rick had doubts about a fundraiser because they thought that so many people were in worse conditions than they did, but Jackie convinced them that they could use the proceeds to help others.
In the coming weeks, Jackie would secure more than 25 items for auction including two tickets for country superstar Jason Aldean’s October concert in Tupelo, a trip to Costa Rica provided by Holbrook Travel, an autographed Brett Favre Green Bay Packers helmet, and a Mississippi State football autographed by head coach Dan Mullen.
In addition, deer hunts, a squirrel hunt with dogs, bass fishing, tree stands, game cameras and several other things will be auctioned. No alcohol will be served and there will be no refunds or rain checks.
There will also be several personalities from one of HGTVs hottest new shows “Home Town.”
“Danny Rasberry is a promoter of revitalizing downtown Laurel and “Home Town.” His niece and nephew are the stars of “Home Town” and his son, Jim, and daughter-in-law, Mallorie Rasberry are regular guest stars,” Jackie said. “This year, Erin is pregnant so Jim and Mallorie will play a larger role. Entertainer Amber Hayes, who works with Danny Rasberry bought a house on last season’s episode. An assistant of Danny Rasberry, Ross Tew, and his wife, Laura, bought the first house in the series. Laura is donating a pet painting. Jeff Bates bought a house that will appear when the “Home Town” series airs in January. Thus, there will be six people associated with the show at our concert.”
To top it off, the concert will be held during International OCD Awareness Week. The live auction and food will start at 6 p.m. and the concert will be from 7-9 p.m.
Tickets are available at Bank First, the Union office of the Newton County Appeal, Southern AG Credit in Newton, First South Land in Newton and Joe McGee Construction in Lake.
