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Dear friends and family,
Thank you so much for taking the time to find our page. Please read on to learn about Lucy and her Little Leg and the joy that she has already brought to so many in her first year of life with us.
Lucy has Congenital Femoral Deficiency, also known as Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD) - which means she was born with a little leg. Lucy’s parents learned of Lucy's condition in utero at 18 weeks. Dale Ceclia (Mom) and Greg (Dad) were quickly ushered to specialists because it's a "rare condition"- 1 in every 200,000 births they say. One doctor in particular whispered to Dale during one of the prenatal appointments that many parents decide to terminate the pregnancy, though she wasn’t suggesting that as an option. She knew how much the Verchicks already loved this little peanut, as Lucy’s parents made their hopes for their little girl quite clear. Dale and Greg prayed that their girl would be strong, a fierce little fighter, and she would do everything that God intended her to be with the help of her parents and her super big brother Andrew.
Lucy was born in August 2018 and has spread light and life everywhere she’s gone since. Soon after her birth, Lucy and her parents began traveling throughout the east coast of the United States to visit with various orthopedic surgeons and specialists to discuss next steps in helping Lucy be most successful with her little leg. Lucy was a champion through all sorts of tests, pictures, measurements, and fittings (most recently, for her boot shoe lift). Back in May of this year, it was estimated that Lucy’s little leg is 8.5 centimeters shorter that her right leg. With various calculations, that may equate to a 28.5 centimeter discrepancy in adulthood, which is significant. This new information left Dale and Greg continuing to search for options and the best answers for their girl.
After much prayer and many consultations, the Verchicks decided to embark on the best option for Lucy and begin a series of procedures with one of the best surgeons for PFFD in the world – right here in Baltimore. Lucy’s first extensive surgery will take place on August 14th, 2019, and the plan is that a series of surgeries over the next several years will lengthen Lucy’s little leg. Lucy is already making some pretty long strides with her little leg.
While the Verchicks have not asked for any help (except for the prayers of God’s faithful), we (friends and family members of this wonderful family) are organizing some fundraising campaigns to help defray the costs that will accrue over the next several years associated with Lucy’s hospitalizations and recoveries. While we cannot go into the specifics of her exact procedures and what insurance will and will not cover, we do know for certain that there are specific, tangible ways we can help right now, and any “extra” will cover unexpected costs related to hospitalizations that are not covered by insurance.
Here are some suggested ways you can help:
$5.00 will cover one good coffee for a tired Dale or Greg in the hospital, as the expected stay for August 2019 is a minimum of two weeks
$15.00 will cover the cost of one night in the “hotel” associated with the hospital where the Verchicks are staying
$30.00 will cover one lunch voucher for Dale and Greg at the hospital
$50.00 will cover the cost of gas for one day of mileage to and from Baltimore
$60.00 will cover dinner out for this family of four
$75.00 will cover the cost of one specialist visit copay for one of Lucy’s many orthopedic follow-up visits
$100.00 will contribute to costs for repairs and accommodations in the Verchick’s home in Pennsylvania, as Lucy may need ramps installed or various accommodations
The above amounts are simply suggestions, and any way you can help is truly appreciated. Finally, the Verchicks and us, their family and friends, ask primarily for your continued prayers for God’s healing hand over Lucy and her little (and growing) leg.
Saint Lucy, pray for us. Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us. Saint John Paul II, pray for us. St. Philomena, pray for us. St. Maximillian Kolbe, pray for us. And all you holy men and women, please pray for us.
Thank you so much for taking the time to find our page. Please read on to learn about Lucy and her Little Leg and the joy that she has already brought to so many in her first year of life with us.
Lucy has Congenital Femoral Deficiency, also known as Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD) - which means she was born with a little leg. Lucy’s parents learned of Lucy's condition in utero at 18 weeks. Dale Ceclia (Mom) and Greg (Dad) were quickly ushered to specialists because it's a "rare condition"- 1 in every 200,000 births they say. One doctor in particular whispered to Dale during one of the prenatal appointments that many parents decide to terminate the pregnancy, though she wasn’t suggesting that as an option. She knew how much the Verchicks already loved this little peanut, as Lucy’s parents made their hopes for their little girl quite clear. Dale and Greg prayed that their girl would be strong, a fierce little fighter, and she would do everything that God intended her to be with the help of her parents and her super big brother Andrew.
Lucy was born in August 2018 and has spread light and life everywhere she’s gone since. Soon after her birth, Lucy and her parents began traveling throughout the east coast of the United States to visit with various orthopedic surgeons and specialists to discuss next steps in helping Lucy be most successful with her little leg. Lucy was a champion through all sorts of tests, pictures, measurements, and fittings (most recently, for her boot shoe lift). Back in May of this year, it was estimated that Lucy’s little leg is 8.5 centimeters shorter that her right leg. With various calculations, that may equate to a 28.5 centimeter discrepancy in adulthood, which is significant. This new information left Dale and Greg continuing to search for options and the best answers for their girl.
After much prayer and many consultations, the Verchicks decided to embark on the best option for Lucy and begin a series of procedures with one of the best surgeons for PFFD in the world – right here in Baltimore. Lucy’s first extensive surgery will take place on August 14th, 2019, and the plan is that a series of surgeries over the next several years will lengthen Lucy’s little leg. Lucy is already making some pretty long strides with her little leg.
While the Verchicks have not asked for any help (except for the prayers of God’s faithful), we (friends and family members of this wonderful family) are organizing some fundraising campaigns to help defray the costs that will accrue over the next several years associated with Lucy’s hospitalizations and recoveries. While we cannot go into the specifics of her exact procedures and what insurance will and will not cover, we do know for certain that there are specific, tangible ways we can help right now, and any “extra” will cover unexpected costs related to hospitalizations that are not covered by insurance.
Here are some suggested ways you can help:
$5.00 will cover one good coffee for a tired Dale or Greg in the hospital, as the expected stay for August 2019 is a minimum of two weeks
$15.00 will cover the cost of one night in the “hotel” associated with the hospital where the Verchicks are staying
$30.00 will cover one lunch voucher for Dale and Greg at the hospital
$50.00 will cover the cost of gas for one day of mileage to and from Baltimore
$60.00 will cover dinner out for this family of four
$75.00 will cover the cost of one specialist visit copay for one of Lucy’s many orthopedic follow-up visits
$100.00 will contribute to costs for repairs and accommodations in the Verchick’s home in Pennsylvania, as Lucy may need ramps installed or various accommodations
The above amounts are simply suggestions, and any way you can help is truly appreciated. Finally, the Verchicks and us, their family and friends, ask primarily for your continued prayers for God’s healing hand over Lucy and her little (and growing) leg.
Saint Lucy, pray for us. Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us. Saint John Paul II, pray for us. St. Philomena, pray for us. St. Maximillian Kolbe, pray for us. And all you holy men and women, please pray for us.
Organizer and beneficiary
Friends of the Verchicks
Organizer
Pottsville, PA
Dale Verchick
Beneficiary