Hi friends! This is my sweet niece Kaylee (bug). Kaylee was diagnosed with pancreatitis when she was 18 months old. Until a few months ago it was relatively under control with flare ups once or twice a year. Shortly before the 2019 holiday season Kaylee's flare ups became more and more frequent. After a few "maintenance" trips, and numerous weeks spent at Cincinnati Children's Hospital (from Grand Rapids, Michigan)  a feeding tube was placed to bypass most of Kaylee's digestive system. It has now been decided it is time to perform what is called a "TPIAT" surgery, or Total Pancreatectomy with Islet Autotransplantation. Basically, they will be removing her pancreas, reconstructing her GI tract, and then removing the islet cells (insulin and hormone producing cells) and injecting them into Kaylee's liver with the hope they will take and her liver will eventually start to produce insulin.  All that being said, I've created this campaign to ask for financial help for my brother, Derek, and his family as they go through this time. Ultimately Derek will spend anywhere from 6-8 weeks of unpaid leave in Cincinnati if all goes well, longer if there are any complications.  We know God works in miraculous ways and responds to Big Prayers so please, if prayers is all you have, send them up! If you are so inclined to help Derek, Kaylee and their family through this time it will certainly not go unappreciated.  With love from our hearts to yours, We thank you so much!