Young Mom Hospitalized with Myasthenia Gravis

Let me tell you about Katie "Across the Street," who you may know as Katie Kelly, or, her maiden name, Katie Conrad. Katie grew up across the street from my family in Altoona, PA and has been my sister's best friend since birth. Katie went on family vacations with us, came over to swim every day of every summer, and has been a constant in our family.

While she'll always be the little girl who hung out with my little sister to me, Katie grew up, married a wonderful guy, Jarrod, and had an adorable daughter, Ava. Katie has dedicated her career to helping others, working as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Garvy Manor Nursing Home in Hollidaysburg, PA. She cares for others tremendously and always finds the time to check in on friends and family, near and far.

This past June 2022, Katie began experiencing muscle weakness in her limbs and droopiness in her face. Her family doctor told her to go to the emergency room in Pittsburgh, where she was diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis (MG). MG is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which antibodies destroy the communication between nerves and muscle, resulting in weakness of the skeletal muscles. It's a rare disease, with fewer than 200,000 US cases diagnosed each year. Its often diagnosed when a person is experiencing a crisis episode, just like Katie is now.

Katie has now been in the hospital for over four weeks, with much of that time on a ventilator, giving her lungs time to rest. She has undergone surgery and is dealing with her second round of pneumonia. But Katie is working hard to get better and get home to her friends, family, and most importantly, her husband and little girl.

That fight to get home is all Katie should think about right now. The financial burden of lost wages and hospital expenses should not be on her mind, as she needs all her energy to heal. Thank you for helping to make sure she can focus on healing and getting her back to her family soon.