Raigen Knippa’s Journey (Scoliosis Warrior)
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Help Support Raigen's Congenital Scoliosis Journey.
Those of you who know Raigen know that she is a vibrant, loving, and silly girl with a big heart. You may also know that she has fought some difficult battles in her 10 years of life.Raigen had her first surgery on the syndactyly on her hand at only one years old and a second hand surgery at seven years old. This hand deformity has always been something that has made Raigen feel different from the other kids her age but she handled it like a champ and shows her scars with pride now. Raigen was recently diagnosed with severe Congenital Scoliosis. Congenital Scoliosis is different from adolescent or idiopathic scoliosis because its much more rare and in Raigen's case its caused by a deformity of the vertebrae. This deformity is causing her spine to curve and due to her being an age where she is growing rapidly , it has caused her spine to curve very rapidly. This curve not only effects her posture but can also cause her physical pain in her back, hips, legs, shoulders, and cause bad headaches. Without intervention the curve in her spine can cause heart problems, restrict her lung capacity and will continue to curve as she grows in height. This also affects her mentally, now she not only has a hand that makes her feel different but a spine that does as well. Congenital Scoliosis is also very different to treat because braces are not helpful and surgery means fusion after removing extra ribs or even vertebrae. This surgery is very dangerous and complications during it could lead to paralysis, brain damage or even death.
Raigen’s parents, Bradley and Kember Knippa have been down this terrifying road of putting their daughter through surgery twice already and nearly lost her during her 2015 hand surgery due to complications with anesthesia. They have done their research and have chosen the very best spinal fusion surgeon they could find. This surgeon is Dr. Newton at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, California. Living in Arizona means they will need to make that seven hour drive to San Diego numerous times for appointments leading up to surgery, and a two and a half week stay in San Diego for the surgery itself, followed by follow up visits. This can add up quickly with the hotel costs and other travel expenses plus missing work to care for their child. Let's help this amazing family get their daughter the best care that she deserves. Raigen has already been through so much, lets help support this new journey and let her parents focus on her care and not stress about the expenses by donating anything you can. Let's show Raigen that she may be bent but she will never be broken. Thank you.
Those of you who know Raigen know that she is a vibrant, loving, and silly girl with a big heart. You may also know that she has fought some difficult battles in her 10 years of life.Raigen had her first surgery on the syndactyly on her hand at only one years old and a second hand surgery at seven years old. This hand deformity has always been something that has made Raigen feel different from the other kids her age but she handled it like a champ and shows her scars with pride now. Raigen was recently diagnosed with severe Congenital Scoliosis. Congenital Scoliosis is different from adolescent or idiopathic scoliosis because its much more rare and in Raigen's case its caused by a deformity of the vertebrae. This deformity is causing her spine to curve and due to her being an age where she is growing rapidly , it has caused her spine to curve very rapidly. This curve not only effects her posture but can also cause her physical pain in her back, hips, legs, shoulders, and cause bad headaches. Without intervention the curve in her spine can cause heart problems, restrict her lung capacity and will continue to curve as she grows in height. This also affects her mentally, now she not only has a hand that makes her feel different but a spine that does as well. Congenital Scoliosis is also very different to treat because braces are not helpful and surgery means fusion after removing extra ribs or even vertebrae. This surgery is very dangerous and complications during it could lead to paralysis, brain damage or even death.
Raigen’s parents, Bradley and Kember Knippa have been down this terrifying road of putting their daughter through surgery twice already and nearly lost her during her 2015 hand surgery due to complications with anesthesia. They have done their research and have chosen the very best spinal fusion surgeon they could find. This surgeon is Dr. Newton at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, California. Living in Arizona means they will need to make that seven hour drive to San Diego numerous times for appointments leading up to surgery, and a two and a half week stay in San Diego for the surgery itself, followed by follow up visits. This can add up quickly with the hotel costs and other travel expenses plus missing work to care for their child. Let's help this amazing family get their daughter the best care that she deserves. Raigen has already been through so much, lets help support this new journey and let her parents focus on her care and not stress about the expenses by donating anything you can. Let's show Raigen that she may be bent but she will never be broken. Thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Vargas Family
Organizer
Bagdad, AZ
Bradley Knippa
Beneficiary