Support Raena's Journey to Overcome ARFID

Hello, family and friends,

As some of you know, Kelly, Rodney and Raena temporarily moved to North Carolina to allow Raena to get the help she needs to overcome her ongoing battle with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and bring her back home healthy and happy.

Since she was little, Raena's picky eating habits have been evident. Over the past few

years, her selective eating has escalated to the point where she now feels comfortable consuming only a very limited selection of foods. Her weight remained unchanged at 52 pounds from July 2021 to January 2023, prompting Rodney and Kelly to push for more help from the pediatrician. Raena's journey took a concerning turn when she was officially diagnosed

with ARFID. Weekly medical visits to La Crosse became a regular part of their lives, with constant monitoring of her weight, blood pressure, and pulse. Her struggles with food

forced her to give up sports and gym class, and she began eating her school lunches

under close supervision in the office. Her physical activity at home had to be limited and eventually taken away. Despite their tireless efforts and appointments with her pediatrician, an eating disorder specialist, three different therapists, and a GI specialist; the underlying cause of Raena's eating issues remained elusive. In August, Rodney and Kelly decided to advocate harder for her and seek the care she so desperately needed.

She was admitted to the children's hospital in Madison, a pivotal moment in her journey, though it's clear now that this intervention should have occurred much sooner. This is a strong reminder to advocate for those you love. During her two-week stay at the hospital, Raena relied on tube feedings for 98% of her nutritional needs. It was here that a therapist was finally able to break through, learning that Raena's aversions were related to her fear of foods touching and

mixing together along with concerns about potential allergic reactions. We believe this fear stems from a classmate's peanut allergy, as no one in our family has such allergies.

Due to her age, diagnosis, and the necessity for a tube feeding, Raena had only two choices for specialized treatment; Atlanta, Georgia, or Durham, North Carolina.

At the beginning of September Raena entered into an eating disorder program in NC. Raena continues her journey where she was admitted weighing just 56 pounds but has shown some progress, reaching 60 pounds on October 6.

This journey, while showing signs of improvement, has been fraught with challenges. Raena contracted COVID-19 and was isolated in her room, temporarily separating her from her family and taking away their visitation rights. A nine year old moved across the country away from her friends and family and then wasn't even able to see her own parents for the first week of being there. This, along with the emotional strain of her treatment, understandably impacted her greatly. Raena is making slow but steady progress; however, there is still a long road ahead.

She needs further treatment to reach her healthy weight, overcome her fears, and build a healthier relationship with food. Rodney and Kelly are committed to supporting her throughout this challenging journey, but cannot do it alone. They hope to bring her home by Christmas.

Rodney, Kelly, Hunter, Gunner and Raena have been deeply touched by the love and encouragement everyone has shown thus far. Raena misses her family and friends dearly, and your messages, cards, and gifts have been a source of great comfort to her. Together, we can bring Raena back home healthy and happy. Thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, and support. Your generosity and kindness during this challenging time means the world to the Hurst family.