Katia’s Journey Continues....
Donation protected
**Please help me by passing this GoFundMe along through your friends, family and contacts. It would mean a great deal to Katia and I. I am not doing well getting this message out and I really need to. **below
Your help is truly needed and greatly appreciated
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit our campaign and sharing it with your friends and family.
She has battled cancer dating back to 2002, her courageous battle against leukemia AML from age 2, relapse at age 3 and a marrow transplant at age 4 which her body quickly rejected causing Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD).
**Many have followed Katia’s battle through the years, seen her struggles through chemo, going bald, relapsing, unable to find a transplant match, fungus in her lungs, so close to death often times... Katia being alive today is due to God’s grace, answered prayers, loving care, amazing doctors and miracles.
Katia’s life continues to be a battle though. Although now that she is older, she also struggles with anxiety and depression. There is not a cure for her. She knows so many reasons to be grateful. She has seen deaths of those she has known and friended. She has seen friends grow up, mature and move when she doesn’t.
She doesn’t completely understand why she remains a “child” but in most every way she does. It just seems as though a lot if people in her life have been lost or moved on and she is, in a sense, frozen in time.
My place in her life has always been as her mommy. I decided early I would be a stay home mommy for my children very early on as I did not have one.
Little did we know what a blessing this would become in 2002 when I would need to be Katia’s full time caregiver which remains true today and for as long as God blesses us with her life.
I have had numerous health issues of my own but we have always known God never gives us more than we can handle and battles often become blessings for us and others in our lives.
Things may not always go as we once planned but God always has a plan. I learned a long time ago not to question God but to follow Him and trust Him.
Through Katia’s life and her daily struggles as she gets older, this has been something she has learned and held onto as well. She is amazingly intelligent in so may areas often overlooked.
Katia battles against the effects of GVHD daily, side effects of cancer and treatments and although this has been the only life she has really known, Katia is not defined by it.
At first appearance, standing little over 3' 3" tall, round faced and wearing her signature kitty ears, one would imagine her to be maybe 4 years old.
However, Katia has faced much more than many average adults will in their lifetime. This has given her sympathy and a great understanding and love for others and nature.
Aside from all her treatments, time spent in the hospital, clinic and isolation away from people due to low immunity, Katia has and will continue to face many lifelong effects from cancer, effect from treatments as well as the ongoing rejection her body has due to from the transplant in 2004.
Katia has gone through continuous medical treatments to boost her immune system, tests to check blood counts and body functions and regular scans to check her bones and heart.
She does have osteoporosis and low endurance. Due to long term steroid use for treatment of GVHD as well as other long term medicines, Katia's puffy in appearance, winded easily and her organs have been affected as well.
Katia's GVHD has greatly affected her eyes, leaving her blind in her left eye and it also continuously appears on her skin, in her mouth and her GI system.
Although Katia is 18 now, brilliant and very creative, her learning level varies between
2nd - 3rd grade in subjects of spelling, grammar, reading, math and other topics.
She is developmentally delayed as well as emotionally and socially delayed.
As I said above though, Katia is brave, a fighter, courageous, creative and she is my hero!
Katia has dreams and I want her to be all she can be. She is my hero and I will always hold her hand but I have to let her fly.
Katia loves art, from drawing, painting as well as digital art on her iPad. She is very creative making little creatures from fabric, stuffing and simple things she puts together.
It would be a blessing to be able to expand her availability of supplies and enable her to freely be the creative soul she is.
Katia loves animals, learning about them and going to see them. Trips to zoos, amusement parks, museums are things Katia would love to do.
Katia loves seeing new places. When Katia feels well, she likes to get out and do things and make the most of any day. She is a definitely a girl at heart who would love shopping trips and picking out new clothes. She is quite the fashionista at heart:)
Although she doesn't grow, her taste and what she likes to wear does change. Some things for Katia would need to be specially fit for her size.
She is a huge Disney fan, loves its history and art and every bit of the parks. She loves anime and gaming, everything japan!
She is such an example of, “As long as there is life, there is hope!”
She has lived it, shown it and dreams it!
She is a huge fan of R.L. Stine and his works. She has been truly inspired by Burton's creative characters and movies.
What do I hope to accomplish here?
We hope to be able to broaden Katia's horizons and expand her quality of life.
We are a one income family struggling each month just to make minimum bill payments. We know and understand we are not alone in that struggle nor in the struggle of having a disabled child.
However, this is a step to be an advocate for Katia's quality of life and moving forward on a better foot.
I believe this can happen with funds available for day to day needs, supplies for her interests, getting out to new places, gas, help with car and car insurance payments and allowing Katia and I to focus on what we need to more.
I do not have access to medical insurance at this time nor do I qualify for medicaid so I pay out of pocket for prescriptions and any medical costs monthly as well as utility bills.
I remind myself to just be thankful these things are available and keep focused on what is important in life.
I’ve been given this precious gift not once but twice. Katia needs me and I have always looked at her as a blessing, a gift and such a miracle.
Life is a blessing and miracle.
I know everyone has struggles and most are fought silently. I am asking your help because I have to be Katia’s voice as well and always look out for her needs but also her hopes and dreams and allow to be all she can be.
We all have a purpose.
Sometimes our purpose includes helping another realize theirs.
Right now I ask your help on seeing our once little ladybug, now sweet and creative Katia be the best person she can be, have the bright and happy future she deserves and feel as good as possible:)
Thank you so much for dropping by and please share her GoFundMe page.
Love, Tracy Solomon
Your help is truly needed and greatly appreciated
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit our campaign and sharing it with your friends and family.
She has battled cancer dating back to 2002, her courageous battle against leukemia AML from age 2, relapse at age 3 and a marrow transplant at age 4 which her body quickly rejected causing Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD).
**Many have followed Katia’s battle through the years, seen her struggles through chemo, going bald, relapsing, unable to find a transplant match, fungus in her lungs, so close to death often times... Katia being alive today is due to God’s grace, answered prayers, loving care, amazing doctors and miracles.
Katia’s life continues to be a battle though. Although now that she is older, she also struggles with anxiety and depression. There is not a cure for her. She knows so many reasons to be grateful. She has seen deaths of those she has known and friended. She has seen friends grow up, mature and move when she doesn’t.
She doesn’t completely understand why she remains a “child” but in most every way she does. It just seems as though a lot if people in her life have been lost or moved on and she is, in a sense, frozen in time.
My place in her life has always been as her mommy. I decided early I would be a stay home mommy for my children very early on as I did not have one.
Little did we know what a blessing this would become in 2002 when I would need to be Katia’s full time caregiver which remains true today and for as long as God blesses us with her life.
I have had numerous health issues of my own but we have always known God never gives us more than we can handle and battles often become blessings for us and others in our lives.
Things may not always go as we once planned but God always has a plan. I learned a long time ago not to question God but to follow Him and trust Him.
Through Katia’s life and her daily struggles as she gets older, this has been something she has learned and held onto as well. She is amazingly intelligent in so may areas often overlooked.
Katia battles against the effects of GVHD daily, side effects of cancer and treatments and although this has been the only life she has really known, Katia is not defined by it.
At first appearance, standing little over 3' 3" tall, round faced and wearing her signature kitty ears, one would imagine her to be maybe 4 years old.
However, Katia has faced much more than many average adults will in their lifetime. This has given her sympathy and a great understanding and love for others and nature.
Aside from all her treatments, time spent in the hospital, clinic and isolation away from people due to low immunity, Katia has and will continue to face many lifelong effects from cancer, effect from treatments as well as the ongoing rejection her body has due to from the transplant in 2004.
Katia has gone through continuous medical treatments to boost her immune system, tests to check blood counts and body functions and regular scans to check her bones and heart.
She does have osteoporosis and low endurance. Due to long term steroid use for treatment of GVHD as well as other long term medicines, Katia's puffy in appearance, winded easily and her organs have been affected as well.
Katia's GVHD has greatly affected her eyes, leaving her blind in her left eye and it also continuously appears on her skin, in her mouth and her GI system.
Although Katia is 18 now, brilliant and very creative, her learning level varies between
2nd - 3rd grade in subjects of spelling, grammar, reading, math and other topics.
She is developmentally delayed as well as emotionally and socially delayed.
As I said above though, Katia is brave, a fighter, courageous, creative and she is my hero!
Katia has dreams and I want her to be all she can be. She is my hero and I will always hold her hand but I have to let her fly.
Katia loves art, from drawing, painting as well as digital art on her iPad. She is very creative making little creatures from fabric, stuffing and simple things she puts together.
It would be a blessing to be able to expand her availability of supplies and enable her to freely be the creative soul she is.
Katia loves animals, learning about them and going to see them. Trips to zoos, amusement parks, museums are things Katia would love to do.
Katia loves seeing new places. When Katia feels well, she likes to get out and do things and make the most of any day. She is a definitely a girl at heart who would love shopping trips and picking out new clothes. She is quite the fashionista at heart:)
Although she doesn't grow, her taste and what she likes to wear does change. Some things for Katia would need to be specially fit for her size.
She is a huge Disney fan, loves its history and art and every bit of the parks. She loves anime and gaming, everything japan!
She is such an example of, “As long as there is life, there is hope!”
She has lived it, shown it and dreams it!
She is a huge fan of R.L. Stine and his works. She has been truly inspired by Burton's creative characters and movies.
What do I hope to accomplish here?
We hope to be able to broaden Katia's horizons and expand her quality of life.
We are a one income family struggling each month just to make minimum bill payments. We know and understand we are not alone in that struggle nor in the struggle of having a disabled child.
However, this is a step to be an advocate for Katia's quality of life and moving forward on a better foot.
I believe this can happen with funds available for day to day needs, supplies for her interests, getting out to new places, gas, help with car and car insurance payments and allowing Katia and I to focus on what we need to more.
I do not have access to medical insurance at this time nor do I qualify for medicaid so I pay out of pocket for prescriptions and any medical costs monthly as well as utility bills.
I remind myself to just be thankful these things are available and keep focused on what is important in life.
I’ve been given this precious gift not once but twice. Katia needs me and I have always looked at her as a blessing, a gift and such a miracle.
Life is a blessing and miracle.
I know everyone has struggles and most are fought silently. I am asking your help because I have to be Katia’s voice as well and always look out for her needs but also her hopes and dreams and allow to be all she can be.
We all have a purpose.
Sometimes our purpose includes helping another realize theirs.
Right now I ask your help on seeing our once little ladybug, now sweet and creative Katia be the best person she can be, have the bright and happy future she deserves and feel as good as possible:)
Thank you so much for dropping by and please share her GoFundMe page.
Love, Tracy Solomon
Organizer
Tracy Solomon
Organizer
Tampa, FL
