Hope for Josie's Future

Josie has several medical issues that have dramatically changed her life in the last four years.  Due to birth defects in her biliary system, she was in constant abdominal pain without explanation.  At the age of 9, she developed pancreatis and the defects were found and surgically corrected.  It was also discovered that she has a heart condition that must be monitored.  A year later, that surgery needed to be redone to correct some lingering issues.  Fast forward another year, and the constant pain is accompanied by other baffling symptoms.  In February 2013, she was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachacardia Syndrome (POTS).  

She deals with daily chronic pain that has not responded to medication and treatment, and has missed most of her 7th and 8th grade years at school.  The pain is now just one symptom among many (dizziness, weakness, brain fog, headaches, high heart rate, low blood pressure.....). Josie used to be a competitive swimmer and now struggles to walk some days.  

Josie's doctors would like her to go to Mayo Clinic's Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Program in Rochester, MN, which will have expensive out of pocket costs.  The program has had great success with children like Josie, and it really offers hope for her future.  It's our greatest hope that she will be able to begin high school next year as a full time student and fulfill her future dreams.