WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VAN FOR DESTINEE

Blessings to you all...

My name is Jequita Breham. I am the mother of Destinee Hayes. Our 14-year-old daughter

medical journey began on January 2, 2022.

Our daughter fell ill during the last week of December 2021. After a few ER visits, the doctors discovered (during our last visit) that our daughter was in Congestive Heart failure! I immediately fell to my knees and started praying and crying as doctors and nurses kneeled alongside me. Afterwhich, I notified Destinee's father of the doctor's findings. Upon waiting on dad's arrival, we were rushed to ICU. Not in a million years would I have thought that this visit would result in a five-month stay at Children's Hospital.

Destinee was placed on a breathing machine within a couple of days. And would later be diagnosed with MIS-C. MIS-C is said to be a deadly but rare illness after having covid. This illness affects mainly teenagers.

Within a couple of days after being admitted, Destinee unexpectedly flatlined for fourteen minutes. Her first angel was there to revive her ( a nurse there at Children's Hospital).

Afterwhich, Destinee was placed on ECMO, known to most as life support. Remember that we are talking about a perfectly healthy, active honor roll student. While being on ECMO for several days- I must admit things were not looking all that great but GOD and our level of faith! We had prayer conference calls and visits from our Pastor, family, church family, and friends, who all remained on the same accord until this very day.

Destinee suffered from heart, kidney, and liver failure which caused her to be placed on ECM. She was on Dialysis as well as received multiple blood transfusions. Through the mist of this unfortunate storm, we kept praying! Dad and I, friends and family, stayed alongside Destinee's bedside.

Once off of ECMO, it was discovered that Destinee had a massive stroke. Dad and I were numb, upset, angry, and shattered at this point, but GOD! Again, our family and friends prayed together and stood on what we believed -GOD is a healer.

Destinee had to have emergency brain surgery to stop the hemorrhaging. Dad and I made yet another decision in hopes that it would save our daughter's life.

Destinee remained in an induced coma showing no signs of communication and not able to respond to any commands given by the doctors. This concerned the doctors as they pointed out that they were not sure if she'd wake up from the coma. The terminology that was being used was "if she wakes up." I would say to them, "when she wakes up."

During this journey, Destinee was on a feeding tube and a trach. Not many doctors had faith in her recovery. Dad and I were told that nothing else could be done but that the doctors would keep her out of pain. We listened carefully but didn't accept that nothing else couldn't be done. We knew that GOD was in control. As ironic as it may have seemed, my faith grew stronger because I know that GOD is a healer. I know that he's the author and finisher. We didn't lean on our understanding because we couldn't make any sense of this. Yet, we thanked GOD for his grace and mercy.

In the past, Destinee played basketball, tennis, and archery. She won numerous competitions, including spelling bees and math competitions, was class president and remained on the honor roll throughout her schooling and always helped others that may have lacked understandign with their school assignments.

Destinee was able to attend her eight grade promotion cermeony and was awarded from the faculty an award for perserverance.

Like many teenagers Destinee enjoyed talking on her cell phone as well as making tiktok videos with her siblings and friends.

Due to Destinee's massive stroke, she's now unable to walk on her own and has lost a high percentage of her vision. Despite her new challenges, the feeling of being confined to the home due to a lack of suitable transportation is only imaginable. Though this is an unfortunate situation, one of our missions is to still be active with Destinee taking her to the park, zoo, and Riverwalk and visiting her granny, who resides in the nursing home (whom she's very fond of) as well as allowing her to fellowship in person with her church family. We desperately want Destinee to live an everyday life of normalcy, allowing her the ability to explore and, more notably, ensure she can safely get to and from her many doctor appointments and weekly therapy sessions. Using a wheelchair-accessible van will also minimize limitations in Destinee's daily life regarding travel.

Destinee is now home surrounded by her family with endless love as we continue on a daily to pray for her healing and complete retoration.

The out pore of prayers, love and support is what I believe contributed to Destinee's healing. Most importantly- GOD has the final say so.

We would be forever grateful and appreciative of all funds donated.

From the parents of Destinee,

May GOD bless you all