We run as one for CAROLINA
Donation protected
Meet Carolina “Lina” as her fellow classmates call her! This sweet 7 year old girl suffers from cerebral palsy & epilepsy. Even though her condition requires 24/7 special care, medical equipments, doctors and medications, Lina has incredible love for life. She loves going to school and interacting with other kids. She enjoys listening to music, watching her favorite cartoons, going for long walks and reading. Her absolute favorite is swimming. She loves water!
My name is Gabriela. I am a fitness professional and the creator of "gr8 me™". My goal is to assist others in reaching their individual health & fitness goals. The development and improvement of those I am able to touch provides me with the greatest satisfaction in life. My team "gr8 me™" and I chose to run Chicago Spartan race 2014, Chicago Half Marathon 2014, Chicago Hot Chocolate Run 2014 because of our desire to push ourselves to the limits and beyond. Beyond Existence and into Full Life - this is what Project I'm.possible and I want for Lina and her family.
Help us reach our goal by donating to Carolina's fund and sharing her story with others who are willing to donate.
Lina's Journey
This loving little girl has faced more challenges in her 7 years of life, than most people ever will in a lifetime. When Carolina was two days old she began to have seizing episodes which had kept her in the hospital for the first 2 months of her life. She was diagnosed with a form of epilepsy called Infantile Spasm. Although very serious and very scary, there was hope of the spasms to end by the age of 5! During her infant life, she was put on medications which had made her physically incapable to feed on her own. The mother and baby bond could not be made. The natural and instinctual bond that every baby needs from their mother and every mother wants with their baby wasn’t there. It was heartbreaking and very sad for her mom to not be able to make that connection and care for her daughter herself. So, she was first fed by a Nasogastric tube, which entered the nose and went directly into her stomach. Later, she was fed by a gastromic tube that went straight into her stomach.
Finally, when Carolina came home, they got to work! Therapies began intensely! Her mom was determined, and tiny Carolina was determined even more. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, developmental therapy, aquatics therapy and vision development. All of these everyday, sometimes twice a day! This girl has been working and fighting since she was a baby. For months, mom had been pumping in hopes to one day be able to feed her baby herself like she had dreamed of. And she desired nothing more than for her baby to be physically capable to feed on her own. Mom had enough of the bags of milk, the tubes, this feeding process. Carolina did it! Her hard work was paying off! The change was made. She fed from her momma. Throughout the sadness and heartache, “we overcame at least one thing” her mom said.
At 9 months old, Carolina was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. It was clear that Carolina’s disabilities would highly demand constant 24/7 special attention, education, equipment, doctors, therapists, medications and more.
Today, Carolina is 7 years old. She cannot walk on her own and is reliant on her wheelchair, stroller or being carried. She is a nonverbal child that engages with others through her special sounds and words, and also with prerecording that she can switch to answer yes and no questions. The simple actions that we take for granted, Carolina cannot do herself and she relies entirely on her parents to help her. She must be fed and dressed every day, bathed. Everything. She continues with a variety of therapies and specialists. She is on a handful of medications and is using multiple kinds of equipment daily that needs upkeep. There is always something newer and better that would help Carolina live her life more comfortably.
Please consider helping Carolina with a donation. She is a strong, wonderful little person and a joy to the people around her and deserves nothing but the best. Please help her continue to live a happy and comfortable life and to strive the best ways possible with her disability.
Thank you!
My name is Gabriela. I am a fitness professional and the creator of "gr8 me™". My goal is to assist others in reaching their individual health & fitness goals. The development and improvement of those I am able to touch provides me with the greatest satisfaction in life. My team "gr8 me™" and I chose to run Chicago Spartan race 2014, Chicago Half Marathon 2014, Chicago Hot Chocolate Run 2014 because of our desire to push ourselves to the limits and beyond. Beyond Existence and into Full Life - this is what Project I'm.possible and I want for Lina and her family.
Help us reach our goal by donating to Carolina's fund and sharing her story with others who are willing to donate.
Lina's Journey
This loving little girl has faced more challenges in her 7 years of life, than most people ever will in a lifetime. When Carolina was two days old she began to have seizing episodes which had kept her in the hospital for the first 2 months of her life. She was diagnosed with a form of epilepsy called Infantile Spasm. Although very serious and very scary, there was hope of the spasms to end by the age of 5! During her infant life, she was put on medications which had made her physically incapable to feed on her own. The mother and baby bond could not be made. The natural and instinctual bond that every baby needs from their mother and every mother wants with their baby wasn’t there. It was heartbreaking and very sad for her mom to not be able to make that connection and care for her daughter herself. So, she was first fed by a Nasogastric tube, which entered the nose and went directly into her stomach. Later, she was fed by a gastromic tube that went straight into her stomach.
Finally, when Carolina came home, they got to work! Therapies began intensely! Her mom was determined, and tiny Carolina was determined even more. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, developmental therapy, aquatics therapy and vision development. All of these everyday, sometimes twice a day! This girl has been working and fighting since she was a baby. For months, mom had been pumping in hopes to one day be able to feed her baby herself like she had dreamed of. And she desired nothing more than for her baby to be physically capable to feed on her own. Mom had enough of the bags of milk, the tubes, this feeding process. Carolina did it! Her hard work was paying off! The change was made. She fed from her momma. Throughout the sadness and heartache, “we overcame at least one thing” her mom said.
At 9 months old, Carolina was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. It was clear that Carolina’s disabilities would highly demand constant 24/7 special attention, education, equipment, doctors, therapists, medications and more.
Today, Carolina is 7 years old. She cannot walk on her own and is reliant on her wheelchair, stroller or being carried. She is a nonverbal child that engages with others through her special sounds and words, and also with prerecording that she can switch to answer yes and no questions. The simple actions that we take for granted, Carolina cannot do herself and she relies entirely on her parents to help her. She must be fed and dressed every day, bathed. Everything. She continues with a variety of therapies and specialists. She is on a handful of medications and is using multiple kinds of equipment daily that needs upkeep. There is always something newer and better that would help Carolina live her life more comfortably.
Please consider helping Carolina with a donation. She is a strong, wonderful little person and a joy to the people around her and deserves nothing but the best. Please help her continue to live a happy and comfortable life and to strive the best ways possible with her disability.
Thank you!
Organizer
Gabriela Hosakova
Organizer
Darien, IL
