In 2016 my niece, Tatiana became sick with a virus and high fever that was never diagnosed. Over the course of her 3rd year she was in and out of the hospital a lot, when she finally became very sick and was admitted into the Children's Hospital in Quito where she suffered 2 cardiac arrests. During the 2nd cardiac arrest she lost blood/oxygen to her brain for several minutes and when revived had a severe anoxic brain injury. This injury left her mostly blind, mute, partially deaf, paralyzed and with extreme tense muscles/tendons. She continued battling her virus for the next year and only in 2018 became fever free. She has undergone surgery to receive a G-tube for feeding and is now much more stable. 

Tatiana lives with her mother, father, and 9 year old sister in Quito, Ecuador. She loves bath time, riding in the car, and visiting her family on the beach of Portoviejo. In Ecuador there is little access to medical equipment and assistive technology, what is available is not of great quality and very expensive. Galo (my husband) and I are raising money to hopefully purchase some equipment while visiting here in the US. We have gone through a couple foundations making requests for bathing equipment and suction machines. But the purchase of a better chair for her has to come through us. Currently Tatiana lays in her bed all day unless propped up in her mom's arms or with pillows. Since the biggest threat to her is pneumonia, she desperately needs a good chair that can hold her straight up and down help move the phlegm in her chest. This is the most expensive piece of equipment, but the one that will change her life and the life of her caregiver the most. 



We have a tight timeline for raising these funds, as we are only in the US for a few weeks. Also while Tatiana will need this chair forever, the need became more urgent as her mother (33 years old) was diagnosed this month with very progressive tumors. As her mom has been her primary 24/7 caregiver and that will have to shift as her mom seeks treatment, we want to help her dad or whoever ends up caring for her have the easiest time possible.

The chair we have selected for Tatiana will probably last her several years if not well into adulthood. It comes with features that can be changed as her legs grow. It is also easy to collapse and fit into a car or taxi for transportation around the city. But also small enough to easily fit in her bedroom to use to sit up throughout the day. 


Please consider changing not just the life of this little girl, but also transforming the care her family can give her, and giving her access to things she would never be able to do simply due to where she lives and what this injury has taken from her. Any amount no matter how small will help us make this dream a reality.