If you know Mariah, you know how strong, kind, and resilient she is. This past year has tested that strength in ways we never expected. In September, Mariah fell while riding her scooter at the park. What seemed like a painful injury turned into months of unanswered questions, countless doctor visits, urgent care appointments, ER trips, and specialist referrals. Eventually, doctors discovered a torn labrum in her right hip. During her recovery, she spent months on crutches and in a wheelchair. Thankfully, after a long recovery, her hip has since healed.
On top of the hip injury, Mariah also suffered a concussion after slipping while using her crutches, and more recently, she broke her wrist at school. It has felt like one thing after another for such a sweet and strong kid. While searching for answers during her recovery, doctors ordered an MRI and discovered something completely unexpected — hydronephrosis in her left kidney, a condition they believe she has likely had since birth. We were referred to specialists at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, where further testing confirmed the diagnosis. At first, doctors hoped to monitor the condition over time, but over the past few months Mariah began developing worsening symptoms, including daily flank pain, nausea, decreased appetite, and severe episodes of pain that led to emergency room visits. Because of this, her doctors have decided surgery can no longer wait.
As a mom, watching your child suffer and feeling helpless is heartbreaking. As a single mom, balancing everything emotionally and financially has been overwhelming. Between specialist visits, imaging, emergency care, and two upcoming surgeries, the medical expenses continue to grow. Our insurance requires us to pay a significant amount out of pocket before full coverage begins. I am incredibly thankful to have FMLA through work so I can be there for Mariah during surgery and recovery, but during this time, any financial support would help relieve some of the stress our family is facing. The funds raised will be used for Mariah's surgery and ongoing medical care, helping to cover out-of-pocket expenses and ensure she receives the treatment she needs. If you are able to donate, share our story, or simply keep Mariah in your thoughts and prayers, we would be deeply grateful. Your kindness and support mean the world to us as we walk through this difficult chapter together. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
On top of the hip injury, Mariah also suffered a concussion after slipping while using her crutches, and more recently, she broke her wrist at school. It has felt like one thing after another for such a sweet and strong kid. While searching for answers during her recovery, doctors ordered an MRI and discovered something completely unexpected — hydronephrosis in her left kidney, a condition they believe she has likely had since birth. We were referred to specialists at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, where further testing confirmed the diagnosis. At first, doctors hoped to monitor the condition over time, but over the past few months Mariah began developing worsening symptoms, including daily flank pain, nausea, decreased appetite, and severe episodes of pain that led to emergency room visits. Because of this, her doctors have decided surgery can no longer wait.
As a mom, watching your child suffer and feeling helpless is heartbreaking. As a single mom, balancing everything emotionally and financially has been overwhelming. Between specialist visits, imaging, emergency care, and two upcoming surgeries, the medical expenses continue to grow. Our insurance requires us to pay a significant amount out of pocket before full coverage begins. I am incredibly thankful to have FMLA through work so I can be there for Mariah during surgery and recovery, but during this time, any financial support would help relieve some of the stress our family is facing. The funds raised will be used for Mariah's surgery and ongoing medical care, helping to cover out-of-pocket expenses and ensure she receives the treatment she needs. If you are able to donate, share our story, or simply keep Mariah in your thoughts and prayers, we would be deeply grateful. Your kindness and support mean the world to us as we walk through this difficult chapter together. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.