Meet Avery.
Avery will turn one year
old at the end of January, and already she has shown the world how much
strength can live inside such a tiny body. Avery has HIE (hypoxic-ischemic
encephalopathy) and cerebral palsy, diagnoses that changed
everything—but did not dim her curiosity or her fight.
Avery is
inquisitive, alert, and engaged with the world around her. She
has high tone, uses a G-tube, and is also able
to eat some by mouth—each bite a small but meaningful victory. Her parents, Brooke
and Jose, are committed to giving her every opportunity possible to grow,
heal, and reach her milestones.
One of the biggest pieces of hope
in Avery’s journey is that she has been accepted into the Duke Stem Cell
Study—a rare and highly competitive opportunity. This alone is around
$20,000, and being accepted is truly remarkable. It is one of the only
treatments available that can actually add matter to the brain, offering
real potential for repair and growth.
What stem cell therapy
can do for a child with CP:
- Support brain
repair and regeneration
- Improve motor function
and neurological pathways
- Create new potential for learning,
movement, and development
To help those stem cells do their
best work, Avery will also need hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)—placing
the brain and body in the optimal environment for healing and growth.
How
hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps:
- Increases oxygen
delivery to injured brain tissue
- Supports stem
cell growth and effectiveness
- Promotes overall neurological
healing and recovery
HBOT typically costs $5,000–$10,000,
and this is just one part of a much larger, long-term plan. Early intervention
is critical for children with CP, and research shows that starting as early
as possible—alongside intensive therapies—can dramatically impact outcomes.
Over
the next several years, Avery will rely on a combination of therapies, medical
treatments, hyperbaric oxygen, and continued interventions to give her
the best chance at meeting milestones and accessing as many opportunities as possible.
Every
donation made here goes directly to Avery’s medical care and toward these
life-changing treatments. Brooke and Jose will be sharing updates along
the way, so please follow along, stay connected, and support Avery as she
continues this brave journey forward.
Your support means hope,
healing, and possibility—for Avery, and for everything her future can hold.
Words of Support
Donate, send meals, or lend a hand to include words of support.
Brittany Conley
Patricia Pittman
Zoila Salehroa
Patricia Pittman
Cindy Kowalske
Claire Natale