Norah Bernice Waltenbaugh

Norah, my 6-year-old niece, was recently diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, DOCK8, that without a bone marrow transplant will only let her live to her early 20s. This disease keeps her cells from communicating with each other, so she is at a high risk for developing cancer and fatal bacterial infections. God has already given Norah great odds: Piper, Norah’s little sister, is a perfect donor match.

On March 20, Norah’s journey to health begins. She will be admitted to CHOP, where she will stay during her multiple days of chemo treatments to kill her current immune system. This time will be especially scary since Norah will not have anything to help ward off illnesses. On March 29, Norah will receive Piper’s bone marrow. If all goes well, Norah’s body will start building a new immune system using Piper’s healthy DNA. It will take almost a year until Norah will be able to be around groups of people. But by that time she will have a new and complete immune system and will no longer have severe eczema, molluscum, and food allergies. Praise God that a diagnosis was made and that a cure is available.

I am raising money to help Norah and her family focus on her healing. While Norah is at CHOP, she will be allowed 1 overnight visitor, and anyone who visits must be completely screened and cleared of illnesses before being allowed into the unit. Matt and Christa will take turns being the 1 overnight visitor. During this time, they will need help with meals and travel expenses during Norah's stay at CHOP. Food from home will not be allowed in the unit where Norah will be staying. Everything must be prepackaged, so Matt and Christa will need to buy all their meals while in the city.

Please donate if you can, and please continue to keep them in your prayers.