Rachel and her twin brother, EJ, were born via an emergency C-section due to a placenta abruption, which caused Rachel and EJ to lose oxygen while drowning in blood. The doctors had a 30 minute window to save the babies and their mom, who was also losing a lot of blood. Due to the work of the doctors at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, IL, the babies and their mom survived and were able to leave the hospital after 5 weeks. During that hospital stay, a brain bleed was found in Rachel causing many lasting problems. Today Rachel is a sweet 4 and 1/2 year old little girl with a family that loves her! She has had several years of Physical and Occupational therapy to improve fine motor and gross motor skill, including walking. She has impaired mobility, strength, ambulation and self-care. Rachel has undergone a surgery called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, which aims at improving her walking. Her family hopes to one day see Rachel walk without braces and participate in regular activities with her peers.

Because of Rachel’s need for intense Physical and Occupational therapies, her family is under a tremendous amount of financial strain to pick up what insurance does not cover. Sandestin Foundation for Kids was able to make a donation to Rachel’s family to cover 1 full year of therapy!

A Note from The Shicker Family:

My husband, family and I would like to thank Sandestin for helping us pay for our daughter Rachel’s Physical and Occupational therapy sessions as well as other devices and equipment she has needed throughout the year. Our daughter is diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and underwent a surgery called selective dorsal rhizotomy in August 2014. This surgery has dramatically decreased the tone in her legs and has allowed us to focus on strengthening her tummy and leg muscles so she can walk, run, jump, etc. like her typical peers. If she had not had the surgery, the main focus would have been on decreasing the spasticity in her legs and not on her tummy and leg muscles. The strengthening needed so she can do these “normal” activities will not happen over night.

The equipment and therapy needed to help her do this is ongoing and could last years. Therapy sessions and equipment are very expensive and insurance doesn’t cover it all. Without your financial help, our daughter would not have gotten the therapy and equipment needed to progress so that she is able do more of the activities her typical peers can do. Rachel is now able to jump up off the ground, walk on her heels for short distances without falling, and stand and get dressed on her own among other things. This would not be possible without the continued help and support of Sandestin. Thank you so much for your help!

– The Schicker Family    

UPDATE: We received an update on Rachel, and her mom says she is doing great! Rachel recently welcomed a baby brother, Jacob! Congratulations, Schicker family! Rachel’s mom, Bridget, says Rachel is currently in a trial with new braces that help correct her walking pattern. Check out the video below of Rachel in action!

Rachel’s parents hope to continue the therapy with the braces after the trial period is over and is going to keep in touch with Sandestin Foundation for Kids on Rachel’s needs and progress. We are so happy to be a part of Rachel’s life and look forward to seeing her reach her goals!

UPDATE: In the last newsletter we told you about Sandestin Foundation for Kids being able to purchase new leg braces for Rachel.  We received an update from Rachel’s mom letting us know Rachel has received the braces and is doing great!  She also sent us a new video of Rachel walking with her braces on.  The braces help Rachel to keep her heels down and will hopefully continue to improve her gate.  Mrs. Schicker said that there might be additional surgeries in Rachel’s future, but she will keep us updated.  Check out Rachel in her new braces!