Hi! Raising money to support Kimberly Collins’ medical expenses for her daughters, Alexandra (age 11) and Chanelle (age 6 months). Both girls have a rare metabolic disorder (Isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency) and Alex (a competitive dancer) just got diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Chanelle is 6 months old and has been struggling with gaining weight- she was diagnosed with severe reflux and failed NG tube placements. In addition, Chanelle has had some episodes of seizure like activity and while trialing solid foods has already had severe allergies to some common foods. In 6 months of life, she has already had four prior hospital admissions. Most recently, her medical team diagnosed her with failure to thrive and decided she needed a surgical G-tube placed. While admitted for Chanelle’s G-tube surgery, her older sister, Alex, was not feeling well (loss of appetite, excessive thirst and urination, and 12 pound weight loss in three weeks). Alex went to the ED and was found to have very high blood sugars, with a new diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. It does not appear that her diabetes is linked to her metabolic condition but just a random stroke of bad luck. Kim is a single mother, now dealing with an infant’s new G-tube (huge learning curve) and a tween with new onset diabetes (another huge learning curve). Alex is a competitive dancer and wants to return to dancing 15 hours a week but needs to learn to balance carb counting, insulin dosing and exercise. Both girls are under great care with the CHOC team (they were able to room the girls together to keep the family intact), but Kim’s focus on caring for her daughters has already cost her loss of work (she had returned to work but will need time off to help manage her girls’ medical needs). All funds will go directly to Kimberly to pay for living and medical expenses while she is navigating these challenging times. (Fundraiser is set up by Suzanne Lieberman, a close friend of Kimberly’s.)
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