The Braun Family

Michelle is the single mother of three. Abby is her 15 year old daughter with an unnamed condition that causes irregularities in her breathing. Although the medical community has yet to determine its cause, some triggers of these frightening episodes have been found to be: less than 10-12 hours of sleep daily for which she has been medicated since infancy to achieve; severe anaphylactic environmental, food and medication allergies; swimming in water colder than 85 degrees; cold air temperatures; infections anywhere in her body for too long; and the use of local or general anesthesia.

More recently Abby is also having difficulty with memory and concentration and low blood pressure drops causing her to lose her balance and or fall. Currently Michelle is on medical leave to take monitor Abby due to so many of these triggers being present at this time including dental infections for which she has been unsuccessfully waiting 9 months to find a physician willing to do the extractions due to the dangerous complications caused by her condition, any one of which could lead to full respiratory and/or cardiac arrest. Only two hospitals-neither local-have been willing
to treat her infections; one in MN and one in CA. Since Abby is unable to fly, they will need to stay in motels for roughy four days each way in addition to a minimum of three days on campus if no complications arise. To lessen the impact financially, they will not be celebrating Christmas this year, Michelle’s son is sacrificing part of his early adult life to help with Abby’s care and her youngest daughter will have her evaluation for bilateral hearing aids
rescheduled.

With the combined cost of travel, the loss of income and out-of-pocket treatment expenses their financial burden has become overwhelming. We would like to help them with the cost of this trip since it comes as an unexpected expense in order to save Abby’s life.

Any help or even just a share would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you and Merry Christmas!