Hi, my name is Carolina, and I'm raising money to help my niece Liz with medical bills, transportation, and all other financial needs related to her Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction disorder.

 

Who is Liz?

 

 

 

Liz is a 7-month-old, happy, smiling, full-of-life baby. She was born in Aracaju, a small city in the northeast of Brazil. She is a little bundle of joy. Always smiling and laughing.

 

Since birth, Liz has always had a hard time eating; she would drink a small amount of milk and never be able to keep it down. When she was two months old, she was so dehydrated from her inability to drink milk, she had to go to the emergency room.

 

Liz is still at the São Lucas hospital to this day. The doctors there have been trying to understand why she doesn't eat. At first they thought she was simply allergic to milk, but then they found she couldn’t eat any other kind of milk or formula. And so, she has been fed through a parenteral tube for almost six months.

 

The doctors in Aracaju have done all kinds of exams such as endoscopy with biopsy, colonoscopy with biopsy and recently did a GJTT (gastrojejunostomy) with biopsy of the whole intestine. Seven days after surgery, neocate 5ml/hr was introduced, but she did not tolerate it.

 

And so she was recently diagnosed with a rare disease called Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction.

 

What is Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction?

 

“Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP) is a rare disorder in which intestinal nerve or muscle problems prevent food, fluid, and air from moving through the stomach and intestines. The child experiences the symptoms of an intestinal blockage, though no actual physical blockage exists. Over time, children with CIP can become malnourished because their gastrointestinal tracts are unable to absorb food and get nutrition.”

 

Source: Boston’s Children Hospital

 

It’s a disorder that causes a child to not get enough nutrition. To lose weight and to suffer terrible cramps and stomach pains. It has a toll not just on the baby but also all those around watching this beautiful young girl have to go through such a hard moment.

 

Liz’s Family

 

 

Liz has a loving family. Her mom, Renata, and dad Daniel are always trying to brighten her spirits and play with her. She has a younger sister Isa who loves her very much. And it has been hard for them as they see the doctors in Aracaju have tried everything and don’t know what else to do.

 

But There’s Hope

 

We recently found another family in São Paulo with a daughter who went through the same procedure as Liz. After treatment, this little girl from São Paulo has a healthy life now and even goes to pre-school.

 

Through this contact, we found a pediatrician who is a specialist in this rare disease.

 

We need to bring Liz to this pediatrician who works in the Sabará Pediatric Hospital, but the health care provider doesn't cover care in a different state.

 

Why They Need Help

 

My brother's family is strained financially; his small tourism agency has been having a hard time since the start of COVID, and his partner was fired from her job when she got pregnant. She was only able to find another job after giving birth. Nowadays she spends the whole day at the hospital with Liz, and at night she does on-call shifts at intensive care as a physical therapist. Meanwhile my brother spends the whole day working and spends the night at the hospital with Liz.

 

They have to travel across the country, and find a way to go to this new city and pay for all of these medical expenses which their healthcare has refused to cover.

 

And they have to do it now. Liz can't wait anymore; she's been at São Lucas hospital for about 6 months now. She keeps getting hospital infections and needs to be taken to the Intensive Room and treated with strong antibiotics, which weaken her immune system. She needs the right help right now.