Gracie's Medical Fund

Hello, I am seeking your help, so that I can help my beautiful thirteen year old daughter, Gracie. She has a rare degenerative, life-shortening neuromuscular disease called FRIEDREICH'S ATAXIA, or FA. There is currently no cure for FA. This disorder causes a range of health problems such as aggressive scoliosis, diabetes, serious heart issues, extreme fatigue, muscle pain, and muscle spasms. Gradually, FA destroys the ability to walk, stand, swallow, spreak, hear, see, and use her hands. We are asking for your support to help with funding for doctor appointments, therapy, medical assisted devices, and any other things Gracie might need through this journey.

First of all, Gracie is in need of a customized wheel chair, so she can become more independent. For now, she is getting around with a walker and a donated basic wheel chair. However, she is beginning to use the wheel chair more than the walker because she is becoming fatigue quicker on walks with her walker. We are very thankful for the wheel chair that was donated; but, after using it for only one year, the chair is wobbling and veers to the right. It is not withstanding rigors of everyday life.
Secondly, Gracie's doctors want her to get physical therapy and occupational theraphy to help maintain her strength and to build her endurance.
Third, we need help with medical expenses.As you can imagine, my daughter needs a lot of care and has many medical appointments with various specialist. Also Gracie needs several medical devices along with medical appointments throughout the year.
Gracie's mother passed away three years ago from cancer. Therefore, I work full time and take care of Gracie alone. Our family helps out when they can; however, it isn't like having two incomes and two parents to share the responsibilites of taking care of Gracie. She has been dealing with a lot of change over the last three years from losing her mom and the degeneration of her disease. Along with the scoliosis and diabetes from FA, she has obstructive sleep apnea and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, thickening of the heart wall which can lead to heart failure.
To give some perspective on the severity of this disease, she has had a wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Last year, she met the requirements to attend the Lions Club Camp for special needs children. This year she will be attending Muscular Dystrophy Associaiton's Summer Camp along with the Lions Club Camp.
We are reaching out to our friends and community to please help fund Gracie's needs.

Thank you for your support,
Horace and Gracie