Kaitlee's Medical Fund

Please take a few minutes to read the story of my friend, Robin and her granddaughter, Kaitlee.

In order to set the stage for this story, it is neccessary to start with Robin's daughter.  She was diagnosed with Schwannomatosis, which is a rare genetic disorder which causes tumors of the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain) and other neurological complications. .She has had 40+ surgeries to remove these tumors and continues to have more.   Because of her continued decline,  she is not able to care for her daughter, Kaitlee, so she is living with Robin.

When Kaitlee was 14 years old she was also diagnosed with Schwannomatosis.  She also suffers from Von Willebrand which is a bleeding disorder.   This past November, Kaitlee was diagnosed with a chordoma near her brain stem.  This type of tumor is cancerous and is not related to her other conditions. On January 5, 2017, the neurosurgeons removed most of the tumor.  She is home recovering and preparing to go to St. Judes Childrens Hospital in Memphis, Tn.  She will undergo 8 weeks of daily radiation.  The family has been told that the tumor will return and can attack other area of the body.  Kaitlee will have to combat this cancer for the rest of her life.

Robin was a single parent.  Her husband passed away 19 years ago from a massive heart attack at the young age of 45.  Robin  was diagnosed with Parkinsons about 5 years ago.  As her disease worsened, she was forced to take a disability and give up her nursing career.

All though  the medical care at St, Judes is wriiten off after insurance is billed,   the expenses for care for Kaitlee and herself continue to criple Robin's minimal income. Kaitlee's parents pay for her insurance ,  but due to Amy's  health conditions , they  also face some financial  hardships.  With the new  year, she is having to start over with the deductables and out of pocket expenses for both of them.  To add insult to injury, Robin's car is in need of repair and cannot be driven to Charlottesville, VA for doctor appoitments for Kaitlee's preceding conditions.

Any donation that you are able to make would be a blessing to this former nurse  who has spent many years taking care of others. We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts. ❤
Christy Uzzell

Robin Potter Duncan of Covington, Va. is her grandmother and
Amy & Danny Dunham of Staunton ,  Va. are her parents and she is the great granddaughter of Ronald Leroy Potter of Covington,  Va.