My name is Vickie Dadisman, and I am the mother of Bobbi Cravens, a 16-year-old straight-A student at Winfield High School. Bobbi is a dedicated student with aspirations of attending West Virginia University to become an Occupational Therapist.

Bobbi has been a fighter since the day she was born. She arrived prematurely at just 28 weeks, weighing 2 pounds and 4 ounces, and spent six weeks in the NICU at Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Despite being one of the smallest babies ever discharged, at 3 pounds 15 ounces, she overcame tremendous odds. As an infant, she was diagnosed with failure to thrive due to her low weight, yet she has continued to show strength and resilience throughout her life.

In 2022, Bobbi was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune disorder. She not only developed Graves’ Thyroid Disease but also Graves’ Eye Disease. Through medication, she has worked to regulate her thyroid levels, though the treatments have caused her significant discomfort. This summer, Bobbi faced an additional challenge when she was diagnosed with Graves’ Dermopathy—a very rare condition. For a child to present with all three forms of Graves’ Disease is virtually unheard of.

Due to the complexity and rarity of her case, Bobbi has been referred to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Her endocrinologist there, Dr. Bauer, has reviewed her records and images and determined that the best course of treatment is surgical removal of her thyroid. Because she also has Graves’ Eye Disease, the procedure must be performed through a traditional surgical approach by ENT surgeon Dr. Kazahaya.

We will travel to Philadelphia on November 18th for consultations with both specialists. If all goes well, Bobbi’s surgery is scheduled for November 24th. She will remain hospitalized for at least 24 hours following surgery and will need to stay nearby for an additional 2–3 days before being cleared to return home.

We remain hopeful that this procedure will bring Bobbi relief and allow her to continue pursuing her dreams with the same determination and courage she has shown all her life.

This is where I humbly ask for help. Bobbi’s treatment requires us to stay in Philadelphia for approximately 10 nights, and the cost of lodging alone is estimated to be around $4,000, even after applying the discount provided by the Children’s Hospital. In addition to lodging, we will have ongoing expenses for parking and daily meals for three people.

While the hospital is working with our insurance, we anticipate having to pay a significant portion of the medical and travel expenses out of pocket. Any funds raised beyond what is needed for our initial stay in Philadelphia will go directly toward future follow-up visits and hospital bills related to Bobbi’s care.

Your support—whether through donations, prayers, or simply sharing Bobbi’s story—means more to us than words can express. We are profoundly grateful for any assistance that helps lighten the financial burden and allows us to focus on what matters most: Bobbi’s recovery and well-being.

Love,

Vickie & Bobbi