Maggie's Home Addition

Hello everyone,

We would like to introduce you to Maggie.

In 2017, Maggie who was only 15 months at the time had a stroke due to uncontrollable seizures. She was placed into a medically induced coma after finding that her brain was swelling so much from her seizures that it was on the verge of cutting off her bloody supply to her brain. Once out of the coma Maggie was found to be completely paralyzed on the right side of her body. She had to rebuild her muscles to learn how to walk, talk, and use her right hand again. What her parents thought would be the end of a terrifying time in her life, was indeed only the beginning.

Maggie is now 9 years old with 2 rare seizure disorders. Hemi convulsive Hemiplegia epilepsy syndrome which only effects 0.06% of the entire worlds population. Along with epileptic spasms which cause her drop seizures. She currently has them daily with no end in sight. She is on five seizure medications on a daily basis, receives IVIG treatment along with a steroid every 4 weeks which requires her to stay in the hospital for 6+ hours. On December 2, 2024 Maggie will be having surgery to insert a VNS implant. The VNS will be attached to a nerve that will send shocks to her brain every 5 minutes, as well as anytime it sense her brainwaves triggering her seizures, and we will be allowed to wave a magnet over the machine to trigger the shock if she has a break through seizure.

Her family is now having difficulty keeping her safe in her own home. She suffers from drop seizures that make her fall randomly throughout the day. Due to these complications she has multiple bruises all over her body from hitting the floor, hitting the coffee table, falling down stairs, falling in the tub/ shower, and even just falling out of bed during her sleepwalking. Because of these situations Maggie has to wear a safety helmet, a gait belt to assist her walking around the house, two special boots called AFOs to help her walk, a DMO compression glove, padded puzzle flooring to cover her bedroom and living room floor, a neck brace to help her keep her head up while sitting.

Unfortunately, due to the size of the safety bed rooms had to be rearranged in the house and her parents are no long located near her room but on a lower level, and other side of the home. . She is unable to take showers due to her drop seizures, but unfortunately, she is unable to take baths due to her being prone to UTIs. She has a bath chair, however it doesn’t fit properly in the bathtub and she can’t get in and out of it safely. Maggie cannot use her wheelchair stroller in the house as the hallways are too narrow, and door frames too small. The stairs have railings however, the lack of strength in her legs can make getting upstairs to the living area causes difficulties. Most often she needs to be carried from her car, to the house, up the stairs and into her bedroom. The place where Maggie should feel safest in the world, unfortunately, works against her on a daily basis.

Her family has decided to add an ADA addition to their home to make it safe for her. however, they have applied for loans, set up a few fundraisers, and even have some funds put aside for this addition, but unfortunately it’s no where enough to build a home safe enough for her.

Maggie is a strong-willed, determined girl who loves pandas, trucks, Blippi, watching hockey, and football, and being outside on her tractor. She deserves a safe home to live in without the chances of the home hurting her. Any type of help would be beneficial to giving this young girl who has suffered so much in her young life, a safe place to call home.

#MaggieStrong

#TeamMaggie