Life Saving Treatment for Shannie

Hello,

My name is Shantell Pooser, but everyone calls me "Shannie." I am a 14  year old girl who has Down's Syndrome and a life threatening airway defect called Laryngomalacia.  Drs at MUSC gave me up last year and told my mom all they could do was "make me comfortable with the use of CPAP" and That wasn't working for me at all.   My mom and step dad wasn't hearing that. They fought for me and WON!! They beat the insurance for the chance for me to have my first airway surgery Feb 10, 2016. I got a little relief and for the first time in my life I was able to sleep on my back.  But it wasn't enough, I'm still not able to breathe and we leave to go back to Ohio (we live in SC) May 22, 2016 for me to have more testing, airway surgeries, bariatric surgery to remove and reposition my stomach from my chest back where it belongs and repair the damages to my stomach.

My mom and step dad need your help to get me to Cincinnati Children's Hospital to continue my treatments and surgery.

As a result of being misdiagnosed for 13 years and battling Airway defects on my own, my body has reacted to the non standard of care by causing my stomach to rise into my chest (inches from my heart).   I also have had AV Ventricular Repair (Open Heart Surgery) when I was 4 1/2, other heart issues to where just last year I had an Implantable loop Recorder implanted near my heart to record "Capture" what my heart is during when I pass out on a day to day basis,  Celiac's Disease, Syncope, Severe Sleep Apnea, GURD, Extreme hearing loss in both ears (I Wear hearing aids), I am non verbal so my mother speaks on my behalf, and a life threatening form of Laryngomalacia.   Of ALL these conditions, the one that I have had to live with that caused the MOST difficulty has been the Laryngomalacia. 

Doctors at Cincinnati  Children's Hospit have a plan to not only treat but to clearing my airway and save my life. We are fighting with my health insurance to cover parts of the treatment and surgery plan as they continue to deny  services. 

My mom and step dad need your help to save my life. Theyve sold everything they owned, and have nothing but the Faith in God that He will cause one of you to give and help save my life.   You see...I'm only 14 years old...and from the looks of it, I've never got the chance to LIVE life. Because of my inability to breathe normal life for me has been limited and I've yet to thrive.  I want to LIVE and know how it really feels to be able to breathe without obstruction . All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you all SOOOOOOO much and God bless.