Help Halzee Fight Her Undiagnosed Illness

Halzee is a vibrant 9-year-old with a love for life that’s truly contagious. She’s incredibly smart, with a passion for reading—especially the Harry Potter series. She’s also a talented dancer with the Evanston Dance Academy, a devoted animal lover (her favorite is the ostrich “because they’re weird”), and a gamer who enjoys Minecraft and Fortnite. Halzee’s goofy personality, big heart, and bright smile light up every room she enters.

But everything changed on April 16th.

Halzee suddenly began experiencing high fevers (ranging from 101 to 105), severe joint and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and concerning inflammation. After multiple visits to Urgent Care, the ER, her pediatrician, and a stay at Evanston Regional Hospital, she was transferred to Primary Children’s Hospital for specialized care.

Since then, Halzee has been battling a host of worsening symptoms: fluctuating fevers as low as 95 and as high as 105, uncontrollable body shakes, an enlarged spleen, a heart murmur, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, weight loss, and dangerously low blood counts. Despite countless tests, scans, and consultations with various specialists, we still don’t have a clear diagnosis. We’ve ruled out many conditions—but we’re still searching for answers. Watching her go through this, not knowing how to help, is every parent’s worst nightmare.

Halzee has now been hospitalized for over a week, and it’s likely she will remain at Primary Children’s for an extended stay. Her little sister and her dogs miss her dearly, and our family is doing everything we can to stay strong.

As parents, we’re trying to hold it together. Brian just began his career as a Mountain View Police Officer less than three months ago, and I just started working as the Drug Court Coordinator as an Addiction’s therapist at High Country Behavioral Health two weeks ago. With limited paid time off and new pay schedules, we’re struggling to keep up with the cost of travel between Evanston and Salt Lake City, meals, childcare, pet care, everyday bills—and now mounting medical expenses.

We are reaching out with open hearts to ask for help during this incredibly hard time. Your support—whether through a donation, a share, or keeping Halzee in your thoughts and prayers—means more than words can express.

Halzee is a warrior. She has endured more in a short time than most adults face in a lifetime, and she continues to fight with bravery and grace.

Ten and a half years ago, Halzee saved my life when I was fighting my own battle with addiction. Now it’s my turn to fight for her.

Thank you for being part of our village.

With love and gratitude,

The Ficker/Ward Family