For the past four years, my beautiful niece Kyla Phillips has been fighting an unimaginable medical journey no teenager should ever have to face. Today, I’m asking for your support as she prepares for a major upcoming surgery, finally offering hope after years of pain, suffering, and uncertainty!

Kyla’s story

Kyla became very sick in 2022 with extreme nausea & vomiting, blood in urine, and horrendous back & abdominal pain. In 2023, after months of searching for answers, Kyla was diagnosed with two compression disorders: SMAS (Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome) and Nutcracker Syndrome. SMA Syndrome is a rare digestive disorder in which the third part of the duodenum is pinched/compressed between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. Nutcracker Syndrome is a rare vascular compression where the left renal vein is squeezed/compressed between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery.

The Toll on Kyla & Her Family

It has been heartbreaking to see Kyla miss out on her teenage years, which should have been filled with high school/ college fun, work, and making memories with friends. Instead, her reality has been defined by excruciating medical trauma, years of pain and suffering from the combination of these two disorders:

Since the diagnosis, Kyla has had:

-Including an NJ tube (nasojenjunal -nose feeding tube placed) due to the SMA Syndrome- this was the only way to get Kyla nutrition. There were several complications requiring several tubes to be placed.

-Having 2 kidney stents placed due to the development of multiple kidney stones

-Surgically having a G-tube placed (more permanent

abdominal feeding tube)

-Kyla developed a rare life-threatening complication from the G-tube (Buried Bumper Syndrome-the internal bumper migrated out of her stomach and embedded into her abdominal tissue), requiring her to be taken by ambulance to have emergency open surgery.

Additionally, in the last 4 years she’s had:

Through it all, Kyla, my sister Allison, her husband Josh, and their whole family have faced these challenges with incredible courage. For years, they have searched the country for a team of surgeons (vascular & GI or General) to work together to fix the problem, not just treat symptomatically. Mama bear Allison refused to give up—and her persistence finally paid off!

A Long-Awaited Turning Point: Surgery This Friday

They have FINALLY found the highly specialized team of Vascular and General surgeons needed to help Kyla! This Friday, July 10th, Kyla will undergo a major, open 5-6-hour surgery to address both compressions simultaneously.

The vascular team will perform a Left Renal Vein Transposition (LRVT) to address the Nutcracker Syndrome. Concurrently, the general surgery team will operate to address the SMA Syndrome, which will most likely involve having an intestinal bypass (Duodenojejunostomy).

We are filled with immense hope that this will be the ultimate turning point for Kyla’s healing.

Why The Phillips Need Your Support

While this surgery offers SO much hope for Kyla’s healthier future, it follows years of overwhelming financial strain. In 2026 alone, the family has accumulated over $13,000 in out-of-pocket medical bills, deductibles, and insurance premiums. This does not even account for years of past and upcoming travel expenses and unpaid time away from work.

Allison and Josh pour their hearts into their local small business, Little Farmers Preschool and Daycare. They truly love the children they care for, but running a small business while managing a medical crisis is extremely challenging.

I want Allison & Josh to be able to focus on what matters most - helping Kyla heal during her extended hospital recovery and when she returns home, rather than drowning in financial worry. Your donations will directly alleviate the heavy burden of their past and ever-increasing medical expenses. Donations will also help to fund additional staff so the business can keep running while Josh or Allison stay at the hospital with Kyla.

How You Can Help

Kyla is incredibly strong and brave, and it’s finally time for her to live the full, pain-free life she deserves!

Any support you can offer makes a world of difference:

We are incredibly grateful for your kindness, love, and support during this pivotal moment! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for holding onto hope with us!