If you know me, you know asking for help is one of the hardest things for me to do. In fact, it's something that I just don't do, even with me being a single mom. But today, I am.

Olivia started having spells to where her legs (from her waist to her knees) would go numb and randomly give out on her. She would fall about every other day. This lasted for about a week, the number of falls slowly increasing daily, and eventually crept up to 5-6 times daily. I took her to her PCP, in which no answers were found. I then took her to the ER at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, AR. She was admitted a few hours later, and they turned her over to the neuro team. There were many departments involved in trying to come up with an answer as to why she couldn't feel her legs. A couple of days later, the numbness and tingling went up to her belly button, and a couple of days later, down to her feet. They did extensive tests, an MRI, CT, Lumbar Puncture, and many other exams. On September 9, 2025, she was diagnosed with FND (Functional Neurological Disorder). In easy terms, her brain and her legs have become strangers. She can move her legs, but she can no longer stand or walk. They sent her home after a week in the hospital. She has to go thru extensive cognitive therapy and physical therapy in order to try to rewire her brain to make the connection again, so she can relearn to walk (I have faith). Some make progress in 6 months to a year, some it takes years, and for some, it is permanent. There is no underlying cause or cure for this disorder. WHEN she does get better, relapses are very common with stressors and triggers or anything that may cause her any kind of anxiety. I am having to have a wheelchair ramp built onto my house in order for her to be able to get out of the house. She also needs an electric wheelchair, so she can be as independent as possible, amongst other renovations I will need to do, to maintain as much normality as possible, so she can be a normal 17 year old. ANY help is greatly appreciated!

Please remember Olivia in your thoughts and prayers as she transitions into this new, life changing threshold. Pray for peace and understanding, mentally, and for complete healing!