Parents? lives center around maintaining the welfare and well-being of their children.
It?s a constant cycle of prioritizing and re-prioritizing based on day-to-day factors surrounding the families they love and protect. Although not all steps in life are easy or enjoyable, those steps are always taken without a second thought – steps that, at times difficult, instill a sense of pride, knowing they knew how to meet an important need for their family.
Then, without warning, tragedy strikes and a family member?s health suddenly becomes critical. Normal day-to-day priorities not only change, but are mostly eliminated, leaving only two: helping that family member survive the battle and, for a lot of parents, an unfamiliar priority married to hopelessness, figuring out how.
Memories of life, prior to tragedy, add to the weight leaning on hearts already broken. In one week?s time, the Terry family watched five year old Kycie go from the little energetic and healthy child they knew, to a child fighting for her life. It started Jan. 25, when Kycie started showing flu-like symptoms. On the 28th, she was taken to her pediatrician, but she still hadn?t displayed any symptoms beyond what would be considered normal for the flu. On the 30th, Kycie was taken to the E.R., where, after several tests, it was discovered that her glucose levels were exceedingly high. A healthy glucose levels usually falls within the 70-120 range; Kycie?s was 1148.
Shortly after that shocking discovery, she was aboard a life flight helicopter en route to the Primary Children?s Hospital in Salt Lake City. While in flight, Kycie suffered two seizures and slipped into a coma soon after. While in a coma, doctors conducted MRI tests and discovered she had extensive brain damage caused by brain swelling thought to have started when the first flu-like symptoms appeared. The survival rate for those with this extent brain damage is low.
On May 23, you can be the ?how?. Kalamity Dance in Lincoln County will be hosting a benefit concert and dinner fundraiser for little Kycie at the Caliente Elementary School Gymnasium. A silent auction will also be held throughout the evening. Dinner prices are $7 for adults, $5 for kids and $25 for families. All involved with the fundraiser are hoping for a large turnout to help Kycie?s mom and dad get her the treatment and care that may save her life. For those not able to attend, but still want to help this family, there is an option to donate online by going to Kycie?s website: www.kissesforkycie.com.
The Lincoln County community can help turn the ?hows? regarding treatments for Kycie to ?whens?.