Our sweet girl, Katie, on Valentines Day, has been rushed to the hospital due to complications with her shunt. Katie is a unique and very special girl who was born early and due to complications had to have tubes and shunts put in her brain and connect to her spine for her to  have a "normal" life. She is kind, outgoing and tries her best at everything she does. Three years ago to the date, this same emergency happened to her and it required three full on surgeries to get her back to "normal" Today we are playing a waiting game to see what Katie's new "normal" will be. Currently, she is in the hospital, her first surgery took place on Valentines Day, and a few days later a pressure monitor was installed to see what was causing the remaining headaches and she may be in surgery again once determinations have been made.... She has many medical bills that insurance isn't covering or is only partially covering. Three years ago costs were over $100,000.00 and today we are looking at the same amount or more. Please help us help Katie!

Background on Katie:

Katie was born 3 months premature (25 week gestation) at 1 pound 10 ounce and 12 inch long.  She spent 3 months in Newborn ICU.  During that time both of her lungs hemorrhaged with in the first 48 hours of her birth and then they collapsed a day later..  Within the first week she had a brain bleed (hydrocephalus) that was a graded #3. She was given Spinal Taps everyday for the first month.  When she was less then 2 months old (34 weeks gestation) the doctors placed a permanent Ventricular Pulmonary Shunt during brain surgery. The VP shunt moves the fluid from her brain to her belly.  As she gets older she will have to have shunt revisions every 2 to 3 years. Sometimes these surgeries work and sometimes they don't. As we have learned in the past.  She is a miracle being part of the first generation of 25 week preemies to live.

I want to thank my very dear friend for setting this up for Katie.  What you mean to me is beyond words..  God bless you for always being there...

 I love my girl more than words can express and I am more proud of her by the minute.

We thank you all for the prayers and all of the love...

God bless you all. Kim/ Mom