Team Juniper! Support Our Tiny Epilepsy Warrior!!
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Many of you have asked how to support the Adkisson/Dizney family during this challenging time.
Juniper is a joyful, brave, and strong 9-month old that brings SO much joy to her family. The past three months have been, without a doubt, the most challenging, exhausting, and terrifying experience of their lives. After being diagnosed with medicine-resistant epilepsy, Juniper is now facing brain surgery.
Juniper's Story
A few months ago, Juniper’s parents, Hailey and Derek, started to notice strange muscle spasms. At first, these spasms looked like startle movements, which is common in babies. But the spasms became more frequent and intense. Some lasted over ten minutes. After a trip to the local ER, Juniper eventually ended up at Doernbacher’s Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon, where she was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms, which is a form of epilepsy characterized by chaotic brain waves (hypsarrhythmia) that halts development.
The doctors immediately started her on a high dose of steroids to stop the spasms and hypsarrhythmia and prevent further delays. Unfortunately, the steroids did not stop the spasms and Juniper was started on another medicine. She had six weeks of seizure freedom before she relapsed in early October. Juniper was admitted to the hospital again and started on a medical ketogenic diet. In the mean time, Hailey and Derek reached out to an expert in Infantile Spasms at UCLA Mattel Children’s hospital. He strongly encouraged them to come to UCLA so additional tests could be run.
After numerous tests, UCLA diagnosed Juniper with focal cortical dysplasia— a condition resulting in a “clump” of neurons not migrating to where they are supposed to go during brain development.
Brain Surgery
Juniper is currently slated for “TPO” brain surgery in hopes to remove the cortical dysplasia. It’s a terrifying nightmare no parent, sibling or family ever wants to face. While she will always face challenges and have special needs post surgery, including partial vision loss and potential learning delays, it gives her the best chance at seizure freedom and development.
How the Funds Will Be Used
In the near-term, Juniper’s parents, Hailey and Derek, are coping with medical bills, travel costs, lodging, meals, and missed work (and feel indebted to those that have supported them thus far). In the long-term, they are looking at additional travel to and from UCLA Mattel Children’s hospital, potential future surgeries, and the possibility of lifelong therapy for Juniper. The hope of this GoFundMe is to ease the burden on Hailey and Derek and defray some of the costs of these expenses.
Juniper and her family have a long and uncertain road ahead with so many unknowns. But, one thing is for sure: Juniper is a fighter. Amid countless doctors‘ appointments, pokes, EEGs, travel, intense medicines, Juniper has managed to keep her sparkle. She smiles at every medical professional she meets and is truly, truly a warrior.
Juniper is a joyful, brave, and strong 9-month old that brings SO much joy to her family. The past three months have been, without a doubt, the most challenging, exhausting, and terrifying experience of their lives. After being diagnosed with medicine-resistant epilepsy, Juniper is now facing brain surgery.
Juniper's Story
A few months ago, Juniper’s parents, Hailey and Derek, started to notice strange muscle spasms. At first, these spasms looked like startle movements, which is common in babies. But the spasms became more frequent and intense. Some lasted over ten minutes. After a trip to the local ER, Juniper eventually ended up at Doernbacher’s Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon, where she was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms, which is a form of epilepsy characterized by chaotic brain waves (hypsarrhythmia) that halts development.
The doctors immediately started her on a high dose of steroids to stop the spasms and hypsarrhythmia and prevent further delays. Unfortunately, the steroids did not stop the spasms and Juniper was started on another medicine. She had six weeks of seizure freedom before she relapsed in early October. Juniper was admitted to the hospital again and started on a medical ketogenic diet. In the mean time, Hailey and Derek reached out to an expert in Infantile Spasms at UCLA Mattel Children’s hospital. He strongly encouraged them to come to UCLA so additional tests could be run.
After numerous tests, UCLA diagnosed Juniper with focal cortical dysplasia— a condition resulting in a “clump” of neurons not migrating to where they are supposed to go during brain development.
Brain Surgery
Juniper is currently slated for “TPO” brain surgery in hopes to remove the cortical dysplasia. It’s a terrifying nightmare no parent, sibling or family ever wants to face. While she will always face challenges and have special needs post surgery, including partial vision loss and potential learning delays, it gives her the best chance at seizure freedom and development.
How the Funds Will Be Used
In the near-term, Juniper’s parents, Hailey and Derek, are coping with medical bills, travel costs, lodging, meals, and missed work (and feel indebted to those that have supported them thus far). In the long-term, they are looking at additional travel to and from UCLA Mattel Children’s hospital, potential future surgeries, and the possibility of lifelong therapy for Juniper. The hope of this GoFundMe is to ease the burden on Hailey and Derek and defray some of the costs of these expenses.
Juniper and her family have a long and uncertain road ahead with so many unknowns. But, one thing is for sure: Juniper is a fighter. Amid countless doctors‘ appointments, pokes, EEGs, travel, intense medicines, Juniper has managed to keep her sparkle. She smiles at every medical professional she meets and is truly, truly a warrior.
Co-organizers (2)
Kelsey Adkisson
Organizer
Salem, OR
Hailey Adkisson
Beneficiary
Lindsey Adkisson
Co-organizer