On February 24, 2021, Skye was a typical functioning 17-year-old teenager - an accomplished Irish dancer, budding artist, and excellent student in school, especially in German class. On February 25, 2021, everything changed! Suddenly Skye's body started fighting itself! It began with uncontrollable body movements and quickly progressed to vocal tics, sensory overload, OCD, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Skye's senior year of high school was spent medically homebound. Thanks to early diagnosis, it was discovered that Skye is suffering from PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). In addition to the symptoms listed above, PANS also has caused autoimmune encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain.

 

Skye is on numerous daily medications and has monthly IVIG infusions in the hospital to help control the symptoms. The medications are extremely unpredictable and hard on Skye's body. They come with many side effects and are not known to cure the disease - only help manage symptoms.

 

Non-embryonic stem cell infusions (stem cells taken from the umbilical cord of a healthy-born baby) can pass through the brain barrier (IVIG treatments do not) and rid Skye of this horrible disease!! These treatments are costly, but we have seen first-hand with Skye's own brother how successful they are! Please help us get Skye these life-changing stem cell infusions!!