Kosair Charities Committee

Torrance and her mother will always cherish the day Torrance received her new power chair. For the first time in her life, the little girl was free to explore a world she yearned to be more a part of. “I doubted Torrance would ever get something like this,” explained her mother, Samantha. “We had been denied by insurance multiple times. They’d only loan Torrance a basic chair for a short time. You’ve been an answer to our prayers.” Torrance lives a life full of complex medical conditions, including Caudal regressive syndrome and Kissing Kidneys. Samantha’s OB recognized irregularities during her pregnancy, but the scope of her baby’s condition was not recognized until Torrance was three months old. Heartbreaking hurdles followed. Samantha was forced to leave her job and care for Torrance full-time. “Scheduling care for my daughter is difficult because Torrance is on medication that must be taken at certain times and has a catheter that needs to be addressed every four hours,” Samantha said. “All of that has been made so much harder being alone.” Thanks to your generous gifts and a partnership with Permobil, Torrance knows someone is there to help when things seem hopeless. “If not for Kosair for Kids, my child would not be making major strides. She would not be excelling. We would not be as hopeful that this ambitious, outgoing little girl would be independent enough to accomplish anything she sets her mind to," Samantha said.

After Kosair Kid Grayson's premature birth, doctors diagnosed him with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), a type of brain injury that occurs to the inner part of the brain. At 18 months, doctors discovered that Grayson also suffered from spastic triplegic cerebral palsy, a severe form of the disorder that affects all four limbs, the trunk, and sometimes the face. “It’s still hard to wrap our heads around this,” explained Grayson’s dad, Shawn. “We have had to watch our sweet, strong, loving little boy go through traumatic and painful procedures and surgeries just to give him a chance at doing things that most people take for granted like walking, running, and sitting independently.” Continued care for any specially blessed child can lead to financial collapse. This reality set in as his mom, Jennifer, was forced to leave her job to care for Grayson full-time. “His diagnosis turned our lives upside down,” said Jennifer. “We were scared for his future and what life would look like for him. We are so grateful we found Kosair for Kids.” Thanks to donations from people like you, Grayson receives therapies he needs to thrive. Together, we’ve also purchased a wheelchair and a mobility device that allow Grayson to experience the world with his family. “If not for Kosair for Kids, many families like ours would be submerged in debt and unable to provide their children with services and equipment that they so desperately need,” Jennifer said.

Kosair Kid Addi was born with amniotic band syndrome, which resulted in the loss of her left arm from the elbow down and indented skin markings on her legs. Addi’s condition required multiple surgeries to correct the band on her legs. Your generosity removed her family’s financial worry because, THANKS TO YOU, Kosair for Kids paid the cost of medical care that her family could not afford. Today, Addi is thriving. She enjoys dancing, jumping on a trampoline, and reading “Green Eggs & Ham.” Kosair Kid Addi wants to be a teacher when she grows up. We happen to believe that she is already teaching us all something about how to live life to the fullest, and her lesson is never clearer than when she rides her bike. Supporting the Kosair Kids Financial Assistance Program will help cover the cost of medical care, therapy, and equipment for children when their families cannot afford it. 142 children received financial assistance for medical help they would have otherwise missed out on in 2023. We need your help more than ever.

The Kosair Kids Experience Fund allows Kosair Charities to host unique event experiences throughout the year. These experiences are specifically designed to meet the varying needs of Kosair Kids by providing small crowd sizes, sensory-friendly programs, and ample time to enjoy the outing. The Kosair Kids Experience Fund was created to support current event experiences as well as increase the number of opportunities to reach more children in the community. By donating to this fund, you are ensuring Kosair Kids have a magical holiday season, get to trick-or-treat at their own pace, and can experience the power of joy through special, individualized experiences.

Kosair Kid Sloane (6) is making great strides because of you! Your support ensures children like Sloane have the medical care, equipment, and therapies they need to progress and grow. Sloane is overcoming obstacles related to a traumatic brain injury and Down syndrome. This year, through the Kosair Kids Financial Assistance Program, Sloane received specialized robotic legs. This medical equipment helps Sloane hold herself upright more independently and assists her with taking steps.