Keep Amanda Smiling Fund

My name is Yvonne, I am Amanda's aunt.  Just a few weeks ago my sister Evelyn rushed Amanda to the hospital because she was covered in a rash and a runny nose at the recommendation of her pediatrician.  After running tests on her for a couple of days the doctors discovered that the shunt in her brain was no longer working.  My niece was born with Hydrocephalus and Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, among other things. What the doctors discovered was that the tube of the shunt harbored several bacterias.  After the course of more tests, they discovered that seven bacterias were growing in her brain.  Over the last couple weeks, Amanda has had several serious surgeries that have been life threatening and her condition is critical.  The doctors are still evaluating the best antibiotic to battle the infections that will not harm Amanda as she is already so allergic to so many and immune as well.
       The day Amanda was born into our  family was  a beautiful and blessed day!  My sister had little idea what road ahead was to come with her care.  What I do know is that she sacrificed her peace to give Amanda life, and a happy and joyful life is what you see in Amanda's smile. No doctor had a positive prognosis about Amanda when she was born, they encouraged my sister to let her live how she could without medical help because she had very little hope.  Faith in my sister's heart told her she had to fight for Amanda, and that she did!
      The first year of Amanda's life was spent at Miami Children's Hospital.  My sister told the doctors to do everything they could to keep Amanda fighting for her life.  Amanda was born hydrocephalic, she was born also without a corpus callosum  which allows communication between  both sides of the brain, among other health issues. Every battle she enountered she survived and lived on to smile and to brighten others along the way.
       As a family we backed my sister all the way.  We were amazed by her courage and her strength to fight for her daughter's life and to push doctors to find the best medicines and care for Amanda. Doctors told my sister that Amanda would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.  My sister made it a goal to prove them wrong.  Between family members and the school therapist, we all worked tirelessly with Amanda to give her the joy of being mobile. Amanda reached that goal with flying colors.  She astonished all doctors!!!  Doctors also said she would never be able to eat solid foods on her own.  Amanda, with the help of family and therapists, today can enjoy foods  that we all eat.  Amanda has met so many other accomplishments and overcome so many obstacles in her life that are too long to list but what I do know is that without my sister I don't know where Amanda would be today.
        I have a website created for her called Smiles for Amanda, www.facebook.com/smilesforamanda, if you have a moment, please visit it.   It's purpose is to  send back to her all the smiles you can by posting your smilie selfie with well wishes for her.  I have never been moved so much by  such a simple sweet gesture as this. Thank you in advance for taking the time for this act of love for Amanda.

Here is a picture of Amanda with my sister Evelyn.  I think that they are each others angels in this life, they have brought love and incredible happiness to each other.   
      Today, I am starting a gofundme account in their names.  My sister has not been able to leave the hospital and is in constant care of Amanda.  She has not been able to go to work, and although she will return, the bills and responsibilities are stacking up.  Amanda needs my sister by her side during this very critical time in her health.  She lives every day for my sister's happiness and joy, can't imagine how she would feel if she can't see her during these very scary times. 
       The funds will be used to help bridge the gap to normalcy until she can get back to work and re-establish the normal cadence of life, and of course have Amanda smiling for everyone to see.  My sister is so strong for her daughters and I know that it would mean so much if we can pull together some funds to get ther thru these next couple months so she can stay by Amanda's side while she overcomes and beats these infections.  We would all love to see Amanda back by our sides smiling. Thank you again in advance for your support, as I am sure Amanda will too!  God Bless each and everyone of you!!!!
Amanda's sisters are Emily, Sophie, Stephanie