Help Levi Battle Life-Threatening ITP

Please help my nephew Levi Fight a rare Life Threatening chronic Autoimmune Disorder called ITP.

My sisters world was turned upside down about a year ago when her son and my nephew, Levi (age 11), was unexpectedly diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This rare autoimmune disorder causes his immune system to attack his own body, leading to numerous health challenges that require immediate and ongoing medical attention. One of the biggest concerns is the inability to control bleeding. In many cases like Levi’s this is life threatening.

Almost a year ago my sister called sobbing. Levi’s body was suddenly covered in bruises, and he was having frequent, uncontrollable nosebleeds. Alarmed, she took him to the doctor, who ordered bloodwork to make sure nothing serious was going on. The next morning, as they were getting ready to leave for Levi’s soccer game, she missed a call from his doctor. When she finally spoke to her, she was frantic—Levi’s platelet count had dropped to 2. This meant he was at immediate risk for bleeding out. For context a persons normal platelet levels range from 150 to 400. She was told to immediately go to the emergency room. Something as simple as a bump by a person or a bruise could cause internal bleeding or brain hemorrhaging with the potential to not stop it.

Since that day, Levi has been in and out of the hospital, undergoing numerous treatments like blood infusions, repeated blood draws, and weeks in the hospital, to try to stabilize his condition. Countless hours of my sister missing work as well. Of course, all of this comes with extreme medical bills. With the first 8 months of treatment, it has now stopped working. Well over 15k of medical treatments so far and that included insurance help. Without medication working Levi has to sit in the home and basically do nothing because his platelets are at critical levels. No playing, no bikes, no soccer.

Initially, Levi received weekly N-Plate shots, but when those stopped working, they had to switch him to a new medication. This brings us to today and the reason I’m pushing this out there asking for help for my family.

The new course of medicine alone is $4,000 + a month, even with insurance coverage. My sister did research and was able to fortunately to sign up for a co-pay assistance program that provides only $15,000/year, covering about three months of treatment. After that, my sister Kristin still needs to find a way to afford another $35,000- $45,000 a year for medicine, hospital visits, and possible transfusions.

Levi, 11, has to get his blood drawn every week, enduring the pain of constant needle pokes to monitor his platelet levels. When his levels drop too low he sometimes has to miss school and he’s unable to do the things he loves, like playing soccer or just being an active kid.

Top it all off making this journey even more difficult for Levi,

he is still grieving the loss of his father, who passed away unexpectedly two years ago. He and my sister along with his brother Liam have had to endure so much but they remain positive and hopeful. And Levi is a fighter!

As a family, we are doing everything we can to support him, but the financial strain on my sister is becoming hard to manage and I’m trying to find support to help continue Levi’s required treatments.

My sister works a full time job and her long time boyfriend Rick has even stepped up to help with all the bills. They don’t have extravagant cars, they don’t go on vacations, and do not spend money lavishly. I hate to ask for help but they need it!

Any donation of any kind will help Levi! It’s going straight to hospital bills and medication.

I have an amazing community of friends. Please share if you are unable to help. Either way, Thank you for your kindness, prayers for a solution, and support during this incredibly difficult time.

My goal is to initially raise $25,000 (6 months treatment)

Stephanie Fort (Kristins sister and Levi’s aunt)