Timmy's Team

Welcome to Timmy's Team!!

Everyone who has met Timmy McKee knows that he is a bright, happy, funny seven-year-old with red hair and laughing eyes.

What some may not know is that when Timmy was four months old, he was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis, a very serious condition where the sutures between plates of the skull – normally slightly open in babies – bond prematurely. This causes dangerous levels of intercranial pressure, along with many other issues.  

As a result, Timmy endured six major surgeries and lots of complications before his 5th birthday.  At just six months of age, Timmy had a cranial vault reconstruction, a serious and involved surgery. The surgery, which at first seemed like a success, soon turned into a nightmare as Timmy developed a severe infection which led to a long hospital stay and a second, emergency surgery. Fortunately, Timmy recovered, but the infection destroyed much of the bone in his forehead, leaving him very vulnerable and in need of special protection. From March 2010 through the spring of 2012, Timmy had three more surgeries attempting to fix the damage caused by the infection. Unfortunately none of them solved the problem. Finally, his sixth surgery in March 2013, which involved installing customized implants, gave Timmy’s skull the coverage it so desperately needed.

These amazing ‘peek’ implants were brand new technology just approved by the FDA and, unfortunately, not yet covered by insurance. Despite this, they have proven to be an excellent option for Timmy. He can finally run, jump, and climb like a regular little boy. Today, Timmy is doing really well. But because the implants will not grow like bone, they will likely need to be replaced as he gets older. And that will mean more surgery. 

In the midst of Timmy’s medical journey, the McKee’s middle son, Sean, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease which requires taking insulin for the rest of your life. Since being diagnosed at the age of three, Sean has endured several hospitalizations and some scary complications. Managing his Type 1 diabetes requires a great deal of medical equipment including insulin pump supplies, testing supplies, and glucose sensor supplies, every month. These costly supplies represent yet another out-of-pocket expense for the McKee family.

Throughout everything, Julie and Luke McKee have held up under amazing pressure and handled things with grace. They have learned to cope with the stress and worry, numerous leaves from work, and mounting medical bills. They have also learned to manage the constant worry of Type 1 diabetes. Though the McKees are making slow progress paying down their overwhelming medical debt, the need to clear the debt in time for another implant surgery, which may or may not be covered by insurance, is extremely pressing.

To help the McKee family clear their medical debt from the six major surgeries Timmy has already endured and prepare for any future surgeries, a group of concerned friends and family has created the Timmy's Team Fund.

Please join us in celebrating Timmy's triumph over all the challenges he has already faced! Together, Timmy’s Team can help the McKee family be ready and able to take on whatever challenges may come their way in the coming years.

All gifts to the Timmy’s Team Fund will help support The McKee family’s past and future medical needs.

Please make a gift to the Timmy’s Team Fund today!

Visit timmysteamfund.wordpress.com to learn more about Timmy's journey.