Believe for Reaghan !
Donation protected
Look at this pretty girl! On the outside, she looks like any other teen; not to mention beautiful and full of light! This is a teen who turns her own christmas into a blessing for others. She always asks her mom to NOT BUY HER ANYTHING for christmas and instead the two of them go and spend the money playing "secret santa" for families who have fallen on hard times. (Mind you some of these times mom was working 3 jobs just to make ends meet with all of their own medical bills). Before she learned of her own illness, Reaghan heard that she could help sick children by donating her hair for wigs so she wanted to giver her hair. But just the donation alone wasn't enough for this earth bound angel. While most of us go and have our lovely locks sheared off, leaving us with a short bob, Reaghan opted to have her head SHAVED to give the maximum donation. Her favorite thing to do is run home on the weekends (she begs mom!) to suprise her elderly neighbors by mowing their lawn. I could go on forever about the acts of kindness this girl does without any adult interference but I must get to why this campagin is here...
On the inside.. she is deathly ill. Over the several years, Reaghan has been in a constant fight for her life without so much as a diagnosis for most of it. Just this past year the Mayo clinc was at least finally able to offer a diagnosis, a very rare Autonomic Nerve Disorder called dysautomonia. This was a blessing and a curse - finally a reason for all of the symptoms and hospital stays but a disease without a cure. It is an Autonomic Nerve Disorder ---The Autonomic Nervous System controls the "automatic" functions of the body that we do not consciously think about, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, dilation and constriction of the pupils of the eye, kidney function, and temperature control. With this disease, Reghans body has not been able to regulate any of these things effectively.
Over the past several weeks, things have taken a major turn for the worst. Reghan had to be hospitalized when she lost more than 20 lbs in 2 weeks without any explanation. Her body was in major distress, she was dangerously dehydrated and malnourished and was given a feeding tube to try and save her life. The Children's Hospital has done what they can to stabilize her, but canot offer her the treatment she needs and has basically said they have "done all they can do". For this reason, Mom has brought her home where she can at least be comfortable but she needs to get to a specialist, all of which are out of state and present a host of challenges.
This fundraising has 2 aims, immediate and long term.
In the immediate:
Reghans condition has been so severe that mom has had to be off work for over three weeks (this time around, not including all of the other bouts with this in the past years). She is a single mother and the only source of income for their family. With Reaghans condition being so precarious she must be with her at all times. This is especially more true as Mom has brought her home, feeding tube and all, to be more comfotable.
I would like to rasie fund to help them cover their basic bills while mom cannot work so she provide medical care for her ill child. Right now, rent is comming due and with no income things are getting dire. No mother should have to worry about how to keep a roof over their ill childs head or how they will provide the speciliazed diet she needs.
Longterm:
Raise enough money that mom can afford to take a temporary leave of absence from work and move Reaghan to the specialized care that she needs out of state. I would like to have their rent here paid, so they have a home to come back to, as well as travel expenses and basic living expenses so that mom can focus on her baby girl.
This child has changed so many lives and touched so many people. She gives to others without any thought for herself and is truly the definition of a selfless human being. She would give the shirt off her back without a second tought and she inspires me on a daily basis to be a better person. I don't pretend to understand why such a good person has to endure such a terrible trial, but I DO KNOW that we can all learn from her generosity and reciproicate in a small way by helping her in her time of need. I know if this was one of us ill, Reaghan would be the first one there to help in any way she could.
Please...BELIEVE FOR REAGHAN!!Meet Reaghan and BELIEVE!
On the inside.. she is deathly ill. Over the several years, Reaghan has been in a constant fight for her life without so much as a diagnosis for most of it. Just this past year the Mayo clinc was at least finally able to offer a diagnosis, a very rare Autonomic Nerve Disorder called dysautomonia. This was a blessing and a curse - finally a reason for all of the symptoms and hospital stays but a disease without a cure. It is an Autonomic Nerve Disorder ---The Autonomic Nervous System controls the "automatic" functions of the body that we do not consciously think about, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, dilation and constriction of the pupils of the eye, kidney function, and temperature control. With this disease, Reghans body has not been able to regulate any of these things effectively.
Over the past several weeks, things have taken a major turn for the worst. Reghan had to be hospitalized when she lost more than 20 lbs in 2 weeks without any explanation. Her body was in major distress, she was dangerously dehydrated and malnourished and was given a feeding tube to try and save her life. The Children's Hospital has done what they can to stabilize her, but canot offer her the treatment she needs and has basically said they have "done all they can do". For this reason, Mom has brought her home where she can at least be comfortable but she needs to get to a specialist, all of which are out of state and present a host of challenges.
This fundraising has 2 aims, immediate and long term.
In the immediate:
Reghans condition has been so severe that mom has had to be off work for over three weeks (this time around, not including all of the other bouts with this in the past years). She is a single mother and the only source of income for their family. With Reaghans condition being so precarious she must be with her at all times. This is especially more true as Mom has brought her home, feeding tube and all, to be more comfotable.
I would like to rasie fund to help them cover their basic bills while mom cannot work so she provide medical care for her ill child. Right now, rent is comming due and with no income things are getting dire. No mother should have to worry about how to keep a roof over their ill childs head or how they will provide the speciliazed diet she needs.
Longterm:
Raise enough money that mom can afford to take a temporary leave of absence from work and move Reaghan to the specialized care that she needs out of state. I would like to have their rent here paid, so they have a home to come back to, as well as travel expenses and basic living expenses so that mom can focus on her baby girl.
This child has changed so many lives and touched so many people. She gives to others without any thought for herself and is truly the definition of a selfless human being. She would give the shirt off her back without a second tought and she inspires me on a daily basis to be a better person. I don't pretend to understand why such a good person has to endure such a terrible trial, but I DO KNOW that we can all learn from her generosity and reciproicate in a small way by helping her in her time of need. I know if this was one of us ill, Reaghan would be the first one there to help in any way she could.
Please...BELIEVE FOR REAGHAN!!Meet Reaghan and BELIEVE!
Organizer and beneficiary
Allie Sheridan West
Organizer
Poquoson, VA
Regina Rockwell
Beneficiary