Amelia's Sidekick Fund
Donation protected
The Hines Family is one of a kind!
In 2008, Erica and Josh brought Silas into the world. Silas is one of just a hand full of children born every year with complete DiGeorge Syndrome, a disease that severely compromises the immune system. Without a bone marrow or thymus transplant, these children typically die from severe infection by their second birthday. Luckily, Erica and Josh lived less than a hour from Duke University Medical Center and Dr. Markert with the only thymus transplanation program in the United States. Duke became the Hines Family's second home as Silas went through the transplanation process and multiple surgeries to repair a cleft lip and palate, also characteristic of DiGeorge Syndrome.
Three years later, a happy and healthy Silas welcomed his little sister, Amelia, into the family. Though tests would showed Amelia's immune system was working, she had the characteristic heart defects, small stature, and cleft palate that often come with DiGeorge Syndrome. Amelia's first cleft palate repair at one year old would fail due to her defective immune system and it's inability to fight off fungal infection. At three years old, Amelia is going through a multi-stage process to close her palate using grafted tissue from her cheeks. A successful closure of her palate is vital to her speech development.
Erica has remained at home these last six years to care for her son and daughter. Resources already depleted by one medically fragile child and his ongoing care, Erica and Josh are struggling to meet the needs of their daughter on a single income. This series of reconstructive surgeries will put the Hines family at their out of pocket maximum of $7,000. Please help this family pay for the gift of their daughter's words.
God Bless!
In 2008, Erica and Josh brought Silas into the world. Silas is one of just a hand full of children born every year with complete DiGeorge Syndrome, a disease that severely compromises the immune system. Without a bone marrow or thymus transplant, these children typically die from severe infection by their second birthday. Luckily, Erica and Josh lived less than a hour from Duke University Medical Center and Dr. Markert with the only thymus transplanation program in the United States. Duke became the Hines Family's second home as Silas went through the transplanation process and multiple surgeries to repair a cleft lip and palate, also characteristic of DiGeorge Syndrome.
Three years later, a happy and healthy Silas welcomed his little sister, Amelia, into the family. Though tests would showed Amelia's immune system was working, she had the characteristic heart defects, small stature, and cleft palate that often come with DiGeorge Syndrome. Amelia's first cleft palate repair at one year old would fail due to her defective immune system and it's inability to fight off fungal infection. At three years old, Amelia is going through a multi-stage process to close her palate using grafted tissue from her cheeks. A successful closure of her palate is vital to her speech development.
Erica has remained at home these last six years to care for her son and daughter. Resources already depleted by one medically fragile child and his ongoing care, Erica and Josh are struggling to meet the needs of their daughter on a single income. This series of reconstructive surgeries will put the Hines family at their out of pocket maximum of $7,000. Please help this family pay for the gift of their daughter's words.
God Bless!
Organizer
Erica Hines
Organizer
Ayden, NC
