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Hi, my name is Gracie Claire Sauer,
I'm 2 1/2 years old and I am the joy of my family's life. Perhaps you know them. My daddy, Scott, writes the “Home Care” article every month in the Boulder City Magazine. My Mama, Jennifer, retired from Massage Therapy here in Boulder City to take care of me. Now, I’m the only lucky one who gets regular massages!
In October of ‘06, when I was nine months old, Mama and Daddy had to take me to the emergency room one night. I had intermittent fevers for the previous 3 weeks and that day I slept nearly 20 hours. Mama kept trying to wake me up, but I wasn’t responsive. I could no longer sit up on my own and started falling over. I began having trouble eating, slept constantly and was losing weight quickly. After many, many tests over the next several weeks, with no diagnosis, Mama, Daddy and Grandma took me to UCLA Children’s Hospital, hoping the Doctors there could give us some answers. They admitted me that night and for the next couple of days, did more tests. Still, no definite answers. The Doctors seemed to think that I had some sort of metabolic disorder, referred me to a geneticist and told us that I would continue to decline and to prepare for the worst. So, we came back home, all devastated, not knowing what to do other than pray.
I have received many forms of therapy through Easter Seals over the last year and a half, including physical, occupational and speech therapy. Recently, I even started hippo therapy (therapeutic horseback riding) to try and strengthen my core so I can learn to sit-up and balance on my own. I try very hard and work 6 days a week. I have made steady progress and am now even taking some steps with the help of my braces and a gait trainer. And I am even starting to use my hands again.
I have just had my 3rd brain MRI and we are anxiously awaiting the results. Though we still don’t know exactly what’s wrong with me, I have many good Doctors who take care of me and have so far, proven them all wrong! Although I still can’t sit-up on my own, walk or talk, I am smart as can be and otherwise healthy and happy. I just wish that I could physically do what other kids my age are able to do. I love other kids and want so much to be able to play with them!
My Mama is constantly learning about new types of alternative therapies to help me and recently learned of NAPA Center in California. NAPA Center is a wonderful place that provides different forms of intensive therapy for kids like me who have neurological disorders. I really want to be able to go to NAPA Center at the end of August and learn to do the things that other kids my age can do. Unfortunately, it costs a lot of money. Because my parents wouldn’t be able to work during that time, my many medical bills and the cost of my care and special equipment, my family just can’t afford to do it all on their own.
So, if you could find it in your hearts to help, me and my family would be forever grateful to you! You can visit the web-site at NAPA Center and read the testimonials. You will be amazed at what some of the other kids like me have accomplished in such a short amount of time.
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