Local Teen Fighting for her Life

Kaitlyn Trusz is 18 years old & has been in & out of hospitals & doctor’s offices her whole life. When Katie was 3 she began having constipation issues. Doctors tried diet changes & medications, but Katie got worse. By 2011 she had many different surgeries including an ileostomy & cecostomy tube. Katie was given an NG tube due to malnutrition, she also developed RND (reflex neurovascular dystrophy) due to years of severe pain. She began having seizures, her body shut down & she was placed in the PICU. Katie & her family began looking into more hospitals to find more answers. They soon learned she had a motility issue with her large intestine, which is why she was having so many issues. Due to medications, NG feeds, intense inpatient rehab therapy & an intestinal regimen, Katie became stable. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. To this day Katie is getting worse & is requiring more hospitalizations. We recently discovered that Katie is suffering from gastroparesis, which paralyzes her stomach, gastritis, inflammation in her stomach, diversion colitis, inflammation & bleeding in her colon, & inflammation & ulcers in her small intestine. Katie has also recently lost the ability to put weight on the muscles in her legs. This takes away Katie’s ability to walk. She is also currently on NJ feeds due to malnutrition.
After years of testing, surgeries, doctors & hospitals, the doctors in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have decided it would be in Katie’s best interest to go to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota. This clinic is #1 in the United States for digestive disorders. However, they require a $5,000 deposit which does not include travel & Katie would be considered a self-pay patient. This is why Katie needs your help. Any form of donation will help, If you are unable to donate, please keep Katie in your thoughts & prayers. We thank you all in advance.