Friends and family members of 21-month-old Canyon Country resident Madison Drouin are holding a fundraiser Saturday to support her as she battles severe neurological impairments with a special treatment most often used to help burn victims.

A benefit concert will be held Feb. 25 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at La Mesa Jr. High School. The barbecue by donation will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the featured band, The Truth, will begin playing at 7:00 p.m. Donations are also being collected in a special account at Chase Banks and by Heart of the Canyons Church.

Madison has developmental challenges, epilepsy, and CVI (Cortical Visual Impairment). She is unable to sit up without assistance or focus her vision on objects. She began having seizures when she was 5 months old, but they stopped after she began an intense “ketogenic diet” that is high in fat and low in sugar and carbohydrates.

“She’s essentially a newborn at 20 months,” said Darren Drouin, Madison’s father, adding that her doctors have had difficulty pinpointing exactly where her brain is damaged.

Madison has recently begun hyperbaric oxygen treatment, most commonly used for burn victims or drowning victims. The treatment involves placing Madison in a chamber with high levels of oxygen and increased atmospheric pressure.

“Our hope is it’s going to stimulate blood flow in her brain and help with the part that’s damaged,” said Darren.

Madison is receiving five treatments a week and is expected to need around 120 treatments total. She has already received 23 treatments and is beginning to show signs of improvement. Darren said that she has been able to focus on both of her parents’ eyes and roll over from her back to her stomach for the first time.

Madison’s parents are also planning on putting her in a therapeutic horseback riding program that is intended to help her learn to balance and sit up.

“Pastor Jim, Pastor Marshall, Leslie, and everyone at Heart of the Canyons has been a blessing to our family and without them in our lives, we don’t know how we would have made it this far,” said Darren.

Donations can be made by making a deposit at any Chase Bank to the “Drouin Baby Fund” Account Number 914750344. Checks can also be made out to the “Baby Drouin Fund” at Heart of the Canyons Church located at 21618 Golden Triangle Rd. #201, Santa Clarita, CA, 91350-2615. For more information, call Heart of the Canyons Church (661) 255-7246.

La Mesa Jr. High School is located at 26623 May Way, Santa Clarita.