Erica F. - Quilt Finished in 2006

Born: December 9, 1988

Illness: Psuedotumor Cerebri, Polysystic Syndrome

Erica F.'s Story

written by mom Jodie

Erica was a 10 week preemie born with many complications. She was hospitalized for 6 months due to a major set back of spinal menegitis and hydrocephalus. Along with bouts of pneumonia and whooping cough.  She was a fighter and within a year, she totally overcame her obstacles.

Now at the age of 16 yrs old she developed what was first diagnosed as migranes, but later was corrected with Psuedotumor Cerebri.  She had so many spinal taps done within a 4 month period scar tissue developed to the point of making the punctures very painful. Her first surgery was April 2006 for a lumbar-peritoneal shunt.  It was a difficult surgery.  As of today, she has had 7 revisions with 5 additional hospitalizations due to complications.  She had to withdraw from high school due to the amount of days missed.  However, she is determined to graduate with her class next year and is doing virual homeschooling. 

Her spirits, for the most part are high, still attending her school for the social parts and to keep her commitment with working as the athletic trainer assistant.  Erica is truly amazing and her faith in God helps her each day carry on when she feels totally alone and isolated. Things like this, the quilt, make her feel as though there are people out in this world that do care and have sympathy and compassion for kids who deal with health issues that are so very hard and challenging.

Written by Erica's mom Jodie in May, 2006