Welcome to My Donation Page!
This is my 8th year participating in the #GivingTuesday challenge and I am on track to surpass a cumulative total of $20,000 raised, but I need your help to get there! If I do, I'll bring back the Santa suit but this year will add in dressing my kids up as elves and we will head to someplace public to take photos and spread some Christmas cheer!
This year, my fundraising is a little more personal. For years I've advocated for Dayton Children's and raised money for the kids we serve. But this year we've had the chance to see first hand how important having an amazing children's hospital close to home is for our kids.
Last spring my son Peter began having some swallowing issues and he was diagnosed with dysphagia where he aspirates his liquids (meaning it goes into his lungs instead of his belly). Since May we've been doing feeding therapy, thickening his liquids and seeing multiple specialists to find out what the cause of his issue was.
This month we finally got an answer. Peter was diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune disorder called juvenile myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia runs in my family which is why I asked to have him tested for it. I was so thankful that our pediatric neurologist, Dr. Reyes, listened to my concerns and agreed to test him even though he wasn't presenting with the typical symptoms. While his condition is not life-threatening, it is certainly life-changing as we adjust to having to give him medicine 4 times a day and have a whole list of things we need to be on the lookout for should things get worse.
I am beyond grateful that we have an amazing team of pediatric specialists right here in Dayton. We didn't have to travel far to see the specialists we needed or to find a diagnosis.
So this year, as I work to surpass that $20,000 cumulative goal, I do it in honor of Peter and for other kids like him. So that Dayton continues to have an amazing place for kids and families to go to searching for answers.
Any donation is greatly appreciated! Thank you for being a part of my #GivingTuesday journey throughout the years and especially this year!
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