Saving Sadie Rae

Sadie, daughter of Jason and Ashley Smith Haywood of Albemarle, NC, was born at 37.5 weeks after a healthy pregnancy. She was immediately transferred to Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte due to breathing issues. She had respiratory distress syndrome, so the doctors put her on a ventilator.

As a possible result of the ventilator, Sadie developed IVH grade III, a serious brain bleed. After several unsuccessful attempts to get the bleed under control the doctors ended up surgically implanting a shunt to fix the problem.

After ten weeks, we got to take our sweet girl home for the first time. All of her issues faded away and she was just our sweet, healthy, and smiley Sadie.

However, at three months, we got the devastating call that would forever change our lives. This call informed us that Sadie had Sanfilippo Syndrome, a very rare neurodegenerative disease that robs children of their lives by their teenage years.

Currently, there is no cure but there is HOPE! A gene therapy trial has shown great promise in mice and has just been used on two children. There are other studies out there that also provide hope.

The research and trials will not be successful without funding. This disease starts to take its toll in children as early as age one. We've got to push for funding to get Sadie and other children into trials before it's too late.

We greatly appreciate any and every contribution - from sharing a Facebook post to raise awareness to donating a few dollars. Every little thing helps. There will be a cure in our lifetimes and with your help this will happen soon enough to save the lives of Sadie and all the other children with this terrible disease.
https://www.savingsadierae.org