Dear Sydney’s Saviors,

From the Beginning:

Sydney’s medical journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Many of you stood by her side through her liver transplant as a baby, and now, 20 years later, her brave fight continues. Today, she and her family need our collective love and support more than ever.

How We Got Here:

In addition to the lifelong challenges of being a transplant recipient, she’s been recently diagnosed with myotonic dystrophy’s, is severely anemic, malnourished due to GI issues, and now relies on a feeding tube to begin regaining her strength. A month ago, she was rushed to Boston for elevated liver enzymes due to stenosis (aka blockage in her biliary ducts) and now has a drain in her abdomen. Two weeks ago she underwent emergency surgery for blood clots. Last week, she endured three seizures in a row, which caused significant psychological trauma for not only Sydney but for her mom Devon, who witnessed each episode with confusion and terror.

What Lies Ahead:

The ultimate goal is to help Sydney stabilize and build strength so she can walk again, and go back home to Vermont. But home will bring a new set of challenges: her family must transform the living room into a bedroom since she can’t manage stairs, install medical equipment and modifications, arrange for in-home nursing care, and adapt their space and lives to support her recovery.

Gratitude And Reality:

We’re incredibly grateful that she is receiving expert care at Boston Children’s Hospital where remarkably, her transplant surgeon Dr. Kim is still her doctor after 20 years. But each DAY in the hospital adds tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Additionally, the family is facing significant financial strain with mounting household and utility bills back home, unexpected travel costs, and caring for Sydney’s sister Lily (now 18) from afar. Devon herself has myotonic dystrophy’s and needs medical care and adaptations as well. She has been a full time caregiver for years and thus unable to work.

What We Can Do To Help:

Let’s rally around Sydney, Lily, and their mom Devon. Let’s ease the financial burden pressing down on them so they can focus on what matters most: bringing Sydney home where she belongs.

Your generosity of any amount will help create some much needed peace and relief for this family to rest, recover, and rise again.

From my heart to yours,

Laura Belair, Nantucket MA

(High school friend of Devon and "Ferry Godmother" to the girls)