Hi, my name is Katelynn, and I’m writing this as Valerie’s mom,something I never imagined having to do.

Over the last several months, our family’s world has been turned upside down. What started as small concerns slowly grew into a medical journey filled with unanswered questions, countless appointments, and long drives to specialists, all while trying to keep life as normal as possible for our kids.

Valerie is our bright, loving, once-constantly-smiling girl. She has always been full of energy, laughter, and curiosity. Watching that slowly change has been one of the hardest things we’ve ever faced. She is now often exhausted, in pain, and struggling to keep up with the things she once loved so effortlessly.

After many tests and specialist visits, doctors now believe Valerie may have a form of hemiatrophy, a rare condition that causes one side of the body to be affected. In Valerie’s case, her entire right side is being impacted. She is losing muscle and tissue in her right side. her bones on her right side are also smaller, shorter, and behind in the ossification process at this time, we are still searching for answers, clarity, and a definitive plan forward. With rare conditions like this, the process is slow, complex, and emotionally draining.

What we do know is that this journey has required frequent travel for medical care, extensive imaging, and ongoing evaluations with multiple specialists. we have a team of 5 doctors now.

Unfortunately, the imaging and testing have become increasingly expensive, and we do not qualify for additional financial assistance at this time.

On top of the growing medical costs, we are facing another difficult challenge.. our car is beginning to fail and is in need of repairs. Reliable transportation is critical for getting Valerie to her appointments, many of which are hours away, and the added stress of potential breakdowns has made an already overwhelming situation even heavier.

Through it all, Valerie continues to show strength far beyond her years. Even on her hardest days, she tries to smile. As her parents, our only goal is to advocate for her, get her the care she needs, and make sure she never feels alone in this fight.

We created this GoFundMe to help ease the financial burden of medical bills, travel expenses, imaging, and necessary vehicle repairs so we can focus fully on Valerie on being present, supportive, and strong for her.

If you are able to donate, share, or even just keep Valerie in your thoughts and prayers, please know how deeply grateful we are. Every bit of support reminds us that we are not walking this road alone.