This is a fundraiser to help this precious little girl, Tawny! Her parents are working so hard to take great care of her. With the expenses being so high and difficulties getting them covered by insurance I am asking for your help.

Here are words from Tawny's mom...

In 2018 we started searching for answers when we realized our little girl wasn't walking perfectly like she was before. She hit all her milestones in the normal time frame. A perfect little girl....standing, walking, running. That all changed. As the years went by she slowly started walking funny. After multiple tests, 2 MRIs on her brain, MRI on her spine, Spinal Fluid and nerve conducting test and even weekly infusions of Copper (yes we need copper to walk right), Electromyography & another EMG. Along with a lot of genetic testing. More tests and many needles later, we finally got answers. Tawny was diagnosed with Friedreich Ataxia (FA). FA is a rare inherited disease that causes progressive damage to your nervous system and movement problems. Nerve fibers in her spinal cord and peripheral nerves degenerate, becoming thinner. People with FA tend to have a shorter life expectancy. We were told Tawny may make it to her 30s but maybe not. She already has left ventricular hypertrophy(thickening of the wall of her heart's main pumping chamber). Heart issues are the leading cause of death in FA patients. THERE IS NO CURE! ( Physical therapy and regular exercise can help Tawny maximize muscle functionality and prolong walking. While she is not confined to a wheelchair yet, she will eventually get there. She can no longer walk on her own. She requires 100% assistance. The longer we keep her exercising the longer we can prolong her ability to walk even if it is only with our help.....

We are asking for help to get her a wheelchair and a recumbent bike. A recumbent bike is used for disabled people to be able to exercise by sitting in a reclined position. This bike will allow her to exercise inside and outside. No matter hot or cold she won't be stuck. The trainer specifically allows us to make the bike available to her in the cold winter months. At only 11 yrs old we are trying to give her the best life possible.

The wheelchair will be over 17k. Our cost is 25% due before the chair is made to fit her. $4333.00 is needed for that. At the moment we were gifted a little Jazzy chair which we have been incredibly thankful for. It is made for an adult. The ability for us to get this wheelchair for Tawny will allow her to have a chair that will fit her and be more suited for her needs and a child. She has taken this time to learn how to work an electric chair and will be able to take care of it.

Any extra money can be used for medical bills. At this moment we have $20,000 we owe to PT and OT. They have to re-submit claims and hopefully, they can get some of that paid. She also has scoliosis due to the FA. In February we found out her degree almost doubled to 52 degrees. As soon as Tawny's orthopedic doctor gets approval that she is healthy enough to go through surgery they plan to schedule her operation for this summer. She will then spend 1 week in intensive care due to her diagnosis after surgery. Tawny's progression is very aggressive.

Please donate to help this little girl have a better life and ease the financial burden her parents face.