KatieStrong
Donation protected
Six year old Katie hasn't had it easy. Since she was a baby, she has been in and out of hospitals.
Katie's mother, Leanna, first discovered during routine prenatal testing that her unborn daughter possessed a small tumour in her heart. From conception, Katie was a fighter. Katie was born with tuberous sclerosis, or in laymen's terms, multiple benign tumors in her body. Tumors that, although benign, began to grow and disrupt her body's precious organs.
First, it was just her tiny heart.
❤ ❤ ❤
As time went on and the genetic disease progressed, doctors began to notice that tiny Katie had more tumors throughout her diminutive frame that began to develop. Tumors seemed to wrap their vicious claws around every ounce of this child's life - giving organs. Tumors began to disturb her brain, creating a new symptom: seizures.
Tuberous sclerosis and the seizures seemed bad enough...
But then, in 2012, Katie went into congestive heart failure. After a frightening air lift to the nearest speciality hospital, it was determined that brave Katie also had Wolff Parkinson White's syndrome, a very rare heart condition that causes rapid arrhythmia and tachycardia.
Off she went for more treatment and diagnoses, all the while her insurmountable mother in tow, guiding Katie daily on how to pray to the Lord for guidance and support.
Although her condition seemed terrifying, she stayed smiling.
What bravery in such a young girl!
Then, the unthinkable happened: in December of 2016, a large, malignant mass was found in Katie's abdomen. It was monitored closely now for almost a year, and just last month (in October of 2017), doctors made a startling discovery. Her recent cervical MRI showed a long segment of tumor within her spinal cord running from the C1-2 level to C5 causing spinal cord expansion/swelling suggesting edema. They suspect that it is neuroblastoma, a distant metastasis related to original abdominal mass. Flustered, doctors consulted elsewhere, leading the family to the infamous Sloane Kettering cancer treatment center in NYC. With no time to spare, they leave on the morning of November 7th, less than one week after discovering the mass's growth. With no winter clothing, finances dwindling and hearts full of both fear of the disease yet hopefulness in the Lord, Katie and her mother will venture north on Monday in hopes of more answers.
Please consider donating to Katie's family as they fight and push their way for a cure. Katie's mom Leanna and her family will not stop fighting this viscous disease, but they need our support, now more than ever. Please donate if you can, every little bit helps. Please share this campaign all over social media. Leanna has a huge heart and has been known to help those around the community even though she is going through so much in her own community. Now it is time for her community to give back! #katiestrong
Katie's mother, Leanna, first discovered during routine prenatal testing that her unborn daughter possessed a small tumour in her heart. From conception, Katie was a fighter. Katie was born with tuberous sclerosis, or in laymen's terms, multiple benign tumors in her body. Tumors that, although benign, began to grow and disrupt her body's precious organs.
First, it was just her tiny heart.
❤ ❤ ❤
As time went on and the genetic disease progressed, doctors began to notice that tiny Katie had more tumors throughout her diminutive frame that began to develop. Tumors seemed to wrap their vicious claws around every ounce of this child's life - giving organs. Tumors began to disturb her brain, creating a new symptom: seizures.
Tuberous sclerosis and the seizures seemed bad enough...
But then, in 2012, Katie went into congestive heart failure. After a frightening air lift to the nearest speciality hospital, it was determined that brave Katie also had Wolff Parkinson White's syndrome, a very rare heart condition that causes rapid arrhythmia and tachycardia.
Off she went for more treatment and diagnoses, all the while her insurmountable mother in tow, guiding Katie daily on how to pray to the Lord for guidance and support.
Although her condition seemed terrifying, she stayed smiling.
What bravery in such a young girl!
Then, the unthinkable happened: in December of 2016, a large, malignant mass was found in Katie's abdomen. It was monitored closely now for almost a year, and just last month (in October of 2017), doctors made a startling discovery. Her recent cervical MRI showed a long segment of tumor within her spinal cord running from the C1-2 level to C5 causing spinal cord expansion/swelling suggesting edema. They suspect that it is neuroblastoma, a distant metastasis related to original abdominal mass. Flustered, doctors consulted elsewhere, leading the family to the infamous Sloane Kettering cancer treatment center in NYC. With no time to spare, they leave on the morning of November 7th, less than one week after discovering the mass's growth. With no winter clothing, finances dwindling and hearts full of both fear of the disease yet hopefulness in the Lord, Katie and her mother will venture north on Monday in hopes of more answers.
Please consider donating to Katie's family as they fight and push their way for a cure. Katie's mom Leanna and her family will not stop fighting this viscous disease, but they need our support, now more than ever. Please donate if you can, every little bit helps. Please share this campaign all over social media. Leanna has a huge heart and has been known to help those around the community even though she is going through so much in her own community. Now it is time for her community to give back! #katiestrong
Organizer and beneficiary
Ashley Leslie
Organizer
Hobe Sound, FL
LeAnna Willoughby Cothran
Beneficiary
