My sister, Sarah, and her daughter (my niece), Lila, have faced many challenges in the past 5 1/2 years since Lila was born.

Lila was born August 3rd, 2009 in the late evening, 7 days passed her mother's due date. She was in distress during that time and due to lack of promptness by the doctors and hospital staff, Lila had a stroke before they finally got her out via emergency c-section. The night of her birth she was having tremors and showing signs of seizing which landed her in the NICU at Kaiser Sunset in Los Angeles for close to two months. Through the next several months Lila endured multiple tests including countless EEGs, CT scans, MRIs, she was treated for infantile spasms, and  heavily medicated with a wide variety of seizure medications. Eventually my sister and Lila's father were given answers, concluding that Lila's diagnosis was, and is, Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy along with Dystonia.

Dystonia is a disorder caused by involuntary muscle contractions that cause slow repetitive movements/abnormal postures - the movements are painful. Not long after Lila's diagnosis she was admitted to the hospital in Los Angeles once again where she stayed for another 2 months, undergoing more tests, it was then that she gradually lost her ability to take a bottle, and in turn had a procedure (Nissan Fundoplication) and a G-tube placement.

Recently, they have started facing more very difficult challenges as Lila grows older, bigger, taller, and more developed. 

Sarah and Lila do not have the adequate equipment necessary to lift Lila in and out of their van. Therefore, Sarah has been single handedly lifting Lila and her wheelchair in and out of their van on a daily basis. 

The result of this has caused Sarah to suffer from multiple injuries to her own body, including her left hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip and back to go out.

Now, they are left with the only solution to get a converted van with a lift, which will get Lila in and out of the van without causing more damage to her mother and potentially putting Lila in danger of getting hurt. 

They have found a van with the necessary equipment to fit Lila's needs. The only problem is the expense.
There is a program that helps Lila and her mother with her disability(accomodations needed) but unfortunately it is not much. This is why I am asking for the help of our family, friends, and community to help out my sister and neice in their time of need. 

I am trying to raise $40,000 of the $67,000 needed in order to get appropriate transportation for a mother and daughter who are in need. They just happen to be my wonderful sister and my precious neice. 

I appreciate any and all donations made to them and I know they will be forever grateful.