Kaitlyn was a normal ten year old until her accident in 2006.

She was riding her bike with friends.  When she didn't come home on time, her parents went looking for her.  They found her wandering around not knowing where she was or what had happened.  Her friends said she had fallen off her bike and was knocked unconscious.  She had two bleeds in her brain.

Kaitlyn was in Intensive Care for two weeks and suffered many set backs including seizures, headaches, and vision problems

While she was in the hospital, doctors did four painful lumbar punctures and discovered Kaitlyn had Pseudotumor Cerebri.  (Now she has a lumbar puncture every four to six weeks and must lie flat for a week after each procedure, to reduce the extreme pain). 

Pseudotumor Cerebri is an increase of pressure around the brain.  Normal pressure is 0 or less and Kaitlyn's pressure was over 60.  Doctors exhausted all the drugs that could possibly help, with no relief.  Now they are discussing surgery.

In January of 2008, a shunt was placed in Kaitlyn's head.  She developed a bleed as well as chemical meningitis.  A second shunt was placed; and after six weeks in the hospital, she finally got to go home!  Unfortunately, it didn't last long.  She needed another new shunt in March, but that one's still not working, so she'll need another in the future.  The complications have triggered her to have uncontrolled seizures several times a week.  She may have another surgical procedure to place a nerve stimulator.

Kaitlyn has missed many school days and her medical condition interferes with her socialization with friends.  She could use some cheering up! 

Kaitlyn and her family take one day at a time and pray for a cure.

For email and snail mail addresses, personal web site URL, medical fund information, and a current list of Kaitlyn's interests and hobbies, visit our "Kids List" page.

For CURRENT UPDATES visit our updates page.