Help Izzy Lick Leukodystrophy: 2016-2022

2014 was quite the year. We were pained to observe Izzy regress both physically as well as cognitively throughout the year. At times we feel as if he is slowly but surely slipping through our hands. In fact, he was close to death's door when he was rushed to the hospital in June with fever of 104 degrees, and nearly fatal C-diff bacteria, eating away at his already severely compromised immune system.

He began the year still able to grasps most objects and was able to sit up and was at least minimally mobile. He still had quite a robust appetite. Izzy begins 2015 unable to sit even when propped up and unable to grasp most objects, even when placed in his hands. He no longer receives oral nutrition, but is completely dependent on being nourished via his feeding tube that is attached to his abdomen.

Izzy survived 3 bouts of C-diff and 2 occurrences of Pneumonia in 2014. Apparently the prayers that emanate from across the entire globe are being heard and responded to by God in the manner in which we fervently desire.

Thankfully, we have discovered a special type of Physical therapy, known as "The Feldenkrais Method", which attempts to tap into the severely compromised brain capacity via specialized sensory impulses to the nerves, joints and muscles. We opine that this is largely the reason that Izzy still experiences those rear moments of lucidity, where he is minimally capable of being cognizant of and responsive to his external environment. Additionally, the Feldenkrais therapy, had kept Izzy, who lives a sedentary life, mostly devoid of muscular and joint pain, which could be excruciating. We are appreciative that he still has some quality of life, and will do all within our power to enable that to continue, for as long a God allows it, unfortunately this expensive therapy is NOT covered by insurance, and we anticipate the 2015 costs to be around $30,000 - ALL OUT OF POCKET. Thus, we beseech the genorous and benevolent people that we have been fortunate to meet along Izzy's Journey, to continue to defray these exorbitant medical costs, which have made a huge difference in a terminally ill 4-year  olds life.

 We anticipate that Izzy will require approximately 4 Feldenkrais session per week, which based on a 50 week year, comes out to a 2015 expenditure of $30K. Adding another $3K for supplements and $7K for miscellaneous medical expenses (which assumes they will be parallel to 2014) we arrived at a $40K goal for 2015.

This assumes that Izzy's condition will not significantly regress during 2015; which all of our continued prayers will beseech God for.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL,
Team Izzy!