Donations for Caitlyn Sanders

Thursday, December 21st, 2023

Caitlyn, an otherwise healthy 17-year-old, woke up that morning to entire right leg paralysis. Her pediatric doctor had seen her the day prior for paresthesia in the same leg and suggested we take a trip to the local emergency room for a work-up. In a matter of 14 hours, we found ourselves on an hour ambulance ride to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN as the paralysis began to spread. By the time we arrived at Le Bonheur at around 2a.m., the paralysis spread to her left leg and up to her breastbone and the pain was overwhelming. Then began the race against the clock to stop the paralysis before it spread to her diaphragm and required intubation. Teams of doctors worked tirelessly to begin the diagnostic process and start treatment. A 3-hour MRI conducted over 2 days showed lesions on both her brain and spine as well as spinal inflammation. Caitlyn’s body, for reasons still unknown, had begun attacking itself and destroying the myelin sheaths covering nerve cells in her brain. A spinal tap was also done and sent off to a specialist for testing so we could get an official diagnosis. While that is being done, her team of doctors began the treatment process across a broad spectrum for 3 very concerning diagnoses. High dosage steroids and a risky therapy known as plasmapheresis were started. Caitlyn has 5 sessions of plasmapheresis ordered, but her treatment regimen may require more. Alongside this, she has begun intensive therapies to try and regain strength and recuperate from the nerve damage done to her body (including her legs/feet, hands, etc.). Caitlyn unfortunately missed Christmas at home this year and will miss her Meme’s birthday celebration and New Year’s at home. However, we have traveled to take the celebrations to her and will continue to do so to bring joy to our girl.

We are hopeful that the treatment will help, but we are uncertain what the future will hold. We know that she will be at Le Bonheur for a while longer to receive medical care and treatment. We do have a room at the FedEx Family House here, but gas and food are still quite costly, alongside other bills. There has been discussion that Caitlyn will most likely have to receive care after leaving here. If she has not reached her P.T. goals, she will require inpatient rehabilitation care to help her readjust and recuperate. The facilities for inpatient rehabilitation are not close to home either. The closest is Jackson, MS and the furthest is St. Louis, MO. There is so much still up in the air, and the funds will continue to pile on as we adjust to this battle. We are also unsure what equipment/house adjustments will need to be made for her long-term.

Donations are welcomed and will go directly to the funds for her care. If you cannot donate at this time financially, we ask that you please add Caitlyn to your prayer list. That alone means the world to us. We will keep this page and Facebook updated frequently. We love y’all and thank y’all for keeping up with our girl and loving on her in prayer!