Our family of six is facing a journey we never imagined. Our daughter, Kinzlee, is turning four this month, and she’s been diagnosed with Glutaric Acidemia—a rare metabolic disorder that requires specialist care to give her the best chance at a healthy life. We are reaching out to you, our community, for help in getting a reliable car so we can continue to take Kinzlee to her medical appointments and provide for our family in these difficult times.

We thought we had solved our transportation issues by purchasing a Traverse, but after months of mechanical failures and failed inspections, we had no choice but to return it to the dealer. Since then, we’ve been using a loaner car, but very soon, we’ll have to give it back, leaving us without any means of transportation.

This is all happening at a time when Kinzlee’s appointments with her specialists are more important than ever for managing her rare condition. To make matters even more challenging, my husband is recovering from knee surgery, which has put him out of work and added financial strain on our family. Despite everything we’re doing, it’s not enough to get us where we need to be.

We’re asking for your support to help us buy a reliable vehicle to make sure Kinzlee can get to her appointments and continue her journey to a healthier future. Your support will also help us cover essential daily living costs while my husband is recovering from surgery.

• Secure Reliable Transportation: Ensuring Kinzlee gets to her medical appointments

• Ease Our Financial Strain: Help cover daily expenses while we navigate this difficult time

Every donation, no matter how small, helps us move forward, gives us hope, and allows us to focus on what truly matters—our little girl’s health and well-being.

Glutaric Acidemia is a rare metabolic disorder that affects Kinzlee's ability to process certain amino acids, leading to the buildup of harmful byproducts in her body. In September, she experienced a skin infection behind her ear that triggered a metabolic crisis, requiring a four-day hospital stay for treatment and stabilization. This is when we realized something was going on with our little girl and when our search for answers began. This crisis highlighted the importance of strict dietary management and careful monitoring of her health during times of illness or stress. Every day is a balancing act—ensuring that Kinzlee eats the right foods, gets her medication on time, and avoids anything that might trigger another crisis. Ongoing symptoms, like dragging speech and chronic lower back pain, suggest early neurological involvement, but with proper care and treatment, Kinzlee can continue to manage her condition and maintain a good quality of life.

To control her Glutaric Acidemia and prevent further metabolic crises, Kinzlee’s diet must be strictly managed for life. Her diet must be low in lysine and tryptophan, the amino acids her body cannot properly metabolize, which means eliminating or severely limiting high-protein foods like meat, fish, dairy, eggs, nuts, and legumes. She will rely on specialized medical formulas to meet her protein and nutritional needs without contributing to the harmful metabolites her body cannot process. All meals must be closely monitored, especially during illness or stress, to avoid catabolism (the breakdown of muscle), which can trigger a metabolic crisis. A metabolic crisis is a life-threatening situation where harmful substances build up in the body, potentially leading to severe neurological damage or even death if not managed immediately. A typical day for Kinzlee involves starting her morning with a specialized medical formula, followed by carefully measured portions of low-protein foods for each meal. Snacks are often low-protein fruits or specially made low-protein baked goods. Every meal is planned and adjusted based on her health that day, and even small changes, like a cold or stress, can require urgent adjustments to prevent complications. This requires ongoing collaboration with a metabolic dietitian, careful planning, and adherence to emergency protocols to keep her healthy and thriving.

If you’re unable to donate, we would be so grateful if you could share our story or send us your prayers and support.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being a part of our journey. Your kindness and generosity bring light into our lives during our darkest moments.

The Brown Family

We appreciate everyone.