Sunshine's Medical Fund for TS

Sunshine's Story; a journey to healing.

This GoFundMe is to help with the cost of a medical treatment for my daughter Sunshine Stevenson who suffers from Tourette’s Syndrome (TS). Sunshine was diagnosed with TS at the age of 6 years old; she is now 8. Her condition has caused her to suffer greatly at such a young age. Sunshine is a fighter; for those of you who have been blessed by meeting her know that Sunshine brightens the room with her love for life and her heart of joy that she instinctively shares with everyone.

After years of looking for relief we found changing her diet had a positive impact on her condition, however she continued to suffer; many hard days and sleepless nights. We never gave up and continued to look for a solution.

Recently, we found a treatment that has been proven to help. We are now asking your help in getting this Godsend treatment to Sunshine and hopefully make awareness of this treatment for other’s who suffer from TS.

What is Tourette's Syndrome?

Tourette’s syndrome is defined as an inherited neurological disorder that is a chronic idiopathic syndrome characterized by the presence of multiple motor tics and vocal tics that have their beginning before adulthood (usually with an onset in childhood between ages 5-8). Tics are repetitive, stereotypic movements or phonetic events, that are nonrhythmic and involuntary (motor tics) such as blinking, coughing, sniffing, shoulder shrugging, neck stretching and throat clearing. 

Suffering from TS.

The most common disability is within a social setting and those with TS find it embarrassing when severe movements or vocalizations occur. People with Tourette’s can achieve success in all walks of life, from athletics to professional careers. However, prejudice or ostracizing is very common at school or at work. Tourette’s tics can sometimes be temporarily suppressible and/or preceded by a premonitory urge, which is like to the need to sneeze or scratch an itch. Many patients describe the sensation as a build-up of tension or a need to release as something they had to do. The tic is released or relieved. This is known as the premonitory sensory phenomena. When a person with Tourette’s suppresses their tics, the tics will subsequently result in an explosion of tics, and the person may seek a secluded spot to release their symptoms.

Sunshine's suffering tics.

Sunshine tics are both motor and vocal. Her first tics at the age of 5 and a half, she would make very loud barking sounds like a puppy and at night she would jerk her entire body similar to seizure. She would skip without control; sometimes falling from over skipping. Because of change in diet – gluten and dairy free - her tics submitted, however are still with her.

Her tics change; she now suffers from continual eye blinking, head jerking and little squeaking vocal tic. Remember these tics are uncontrollable; try not to sneeze and you will get just an idea of this terrible affliction. As most people with TS, Sunshine also suffers from symptoms of attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety; panic attacks and difficult sleeping with fearful thoughts.

Sunshine at 6 years old.

The Treatments.

Until recently, treatments required either antipsychotic medicines, neurotoxins, and for severe conditions surgery such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). These treatments come with terrible side-effects and high risk of causing more problems with no real certainty of successful outcomes. We did not want to put our daughter through these treatments.

The Good News!

With continual prayers for God's direction we found another option that did NOT require any medications, neurotoxins or surgery. The treatment is a simple appliance that is placed in the mouth of the patient, as a result significantly reduces the urge to tic. Unfortunately, as like most alternative medical treatments, medical insurance does not cover this treatment. 

Click Here for videos of children and adults who suffer from TS and see how just applying the application significantly reduces their tics.

Click Here for the case report of the treatment and more details of TS and the treatment appliance.

The Cost.

We have already decided to do the treatment, after seeing the incredible results in the videos and consulting Dr. Sims.  We know that without this treatment Sunshine will continue to suffer with TS.  We know that God has provided this for her and others. We are so grateful for Dr. Sims and other Doctors who share this incredible treatment.

We scheduled an appointment with Dr. Anthony B. Sims for early January 2018. We will be driving to Maryland and staying at a hotel for a week. The cost of the treatment in total est. $5,000. The cost of the trip - room and board - will be around $1,000. We are asking you for any amount you can help with getting this treatment for Sunshine.

God has blessed us with a wonderful daughter. Regardless of the amount we receive we already know God has meet the requirements. We pray that Sunshine story will bless you and other’s We thank you in Jesus Holy Name. - Christopher, Lily and Sunshine Stevenson.

Sunshine and Grandma.

Sunshine and Mom.

Sunshine and Grandparents.

Be part of Sunshine's story.

Feel free to join us! We created a website at SunshineStevenson.com to keep you updated in our journey to complete healing. God Bless.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3: 5-6 (NIV)