Medical Treatment

Members of the Fort Worth Fire Department have requested that we update Kendall's page with more information. I am a  teacher at Fort Worth Christian School. I have been teaching for fourteen years.  My husband, Michael, has been a Fort Worth firefighter for sixteen years. 
      Our sweet baby girl, Kendall was born on May 22, 2004.  Kendall was always very active and was involved in soccer, dance, gymnastics and swimming. Kendall was also sick frequently and never seemed to recuperate as she should.  A simple sore throat or stomach bug would always land Kendall in the hospital where she would, at the very least, need IV fluids to rehydrate her body. We always questioned the doctors about this, but never got good answers.  We were always told to "push fluids."  We constantly pushed fluids but Kendall could never stay hydrated. 
      On November 20, 2010 after completing a full day of school and then after school dance classes we headed home to start our Thanksgiving break.  Kendall went to bed with no problems, but woke up two hours later vomiting. I didn't think anything of this.  There was no fever and I assumed that Kendall had a stomach virus.  Within hours it became clear that something just wasn't right.  Kendall very quickly became incontinent and was getting worse. Michael and I scooped Kendall up and rushed her to Cook Children's Hospital where within minutes she started having Grand Mal Seizures. Kendall's blood sugar was 26 (normal is 70-110) and her blood pressure was dangerously low.  Kendall was crashing and Dr. Carl Shaw was quickly working to stabilize her. A spinal tap was performed in the Emergency Room.  Kendall continued going downhill very quickly.  She was admitted to ICU where she stayed for the next week. I will never forget that night because a team of ICU Doctors told us that Kendall would not live through the night. They also called Kendall's Pediatrician and informed her.  
     A couple of weeks later in December 2010, our six year old daughter was diagnosed with a life threatening illness called Adrenal Insufficiency, also known as Addison's Disease. Kendall was in adrenal crisis which caused her body to go into septic shock.  Kendall's organs were shutting down. Fortunately, by the grace of God, Kendall did not die that night. 
      Kendall requires numerous hospitalizations and has to travel out of state for her medical treatments. I am a teacher and my husband a firefighter, but Kendall's medical expenses far exceed our income. We are asking for any help to save our home and to help pay Kendall's mounting medical bills.We have never asked for help from anyone and this is very difficult for us.