I am reaching out to the community in support of the Krall family, as they cope with the sudden illness, recovery, & rehabilitation of their nine year old daughter, Livy.

Livy is a beloved friend, teammate, and 4H Youth Member. She is a valued teammate of the Strathmore U10 Step 3 Ice Devils Ringette Team, and her spirit, joy, and determination shines through every time she touches the ice!

Livy's family are deeply connected to ringette, and community. Livy's older sister, Lainee, is a teammate of the U12A RISE Phoenix. Her younger brother, Leif, is the ultimate ringette brother. Her parents, Kevin & Kristin are cherished friends and dedicated volunteers within our rural community.

Livy’s journey began on the morning of Saturday, December 6th, when Livy didn't wake up as usual. Her mother, Kristin, went downstairs to check on her and found her barely responsive, which prompted an urgent rush to Alberta Children's Hospital via ambulance.

 

At the hospital, Livy underwent a series of tests, including chest x-rays, CT scans, and ultimately an MRI, which led to her diagnosis of Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy of Childhood (ANEC). ANEC is an extremely rare and severe neurological condition in children, characterized by lesions in the brain, particularly in the thalami and brainstem, typically arising after a viral infection. The statistics are quite daunting, with a high mortality rate of 40-50%, positive outcomes can vary significantly, ranging from mild to severe cognitive and physical impairments and only about 10% of cases achieving full neurological recovery.

 

Amidst this challenging diagnosis, there is good news. Livy's condition was identified quickly, allowing her to receive every possible treatment known to yield positive outcomes. Her treatments included Intravenous Immunoglobulin (a blood product containing antibodies from thousands of donors), Anakinra (an anti-inflammatory medication), high-dose steroids, a cocktail of vitamins, and Tocilizumab, which is an immunosuppressive drug that works by blocking the receptor for a key inflammatory protein called interleukin-6 (IL-6).

 

In spite of the difficult prognosis, Livy has continued to amaze her doctors with her daily improvements. She is currently trending towards the higher end of positive outcomes. However, we recognize that her recovery journey is likely to be long and drawn-out, potentially involving months in the hospital followed by extensive rehabilitation at home.

 

Livy may be small, but she is incredibly strong, and I have every confidence that she will skate again!

Through fundraising our goal is to support the Krall family with expenses related to Livy's hospitalization, care, and rehabilitation. Livy likely has a long journey ahead, and we intend for our support to walk beside them every step of the way.

In this difficult time, we ask for our community to come together with love, strength, comfort and compassion. Any contribution, no matter the size will support the financial impact of her illness, so their family can focus on Livy's healing and recovery.

We kindly ask for community support, and to keep their family in our prayers & hearts, as we share Love for Livy - a beautiful, resilient, and amazing girl.