Though initially denied coverage, a Texas couple may be able to cover the costs of their daughter’s surgery after all thanks to a fundraising website and the generosity of strangers.
Any surgery comes with serious risks. However, for some medical conditions, surgery seems to be the only hope for a better quality of life. Though initially denied coverage, a Texas couple may be able to cover the costs of their daughter’s surgery after all thanks to a fundraising website and the generosity of strangers.
2 years ago, Ian and Jenny Shapiro’s normal 10-year-old daughter, Alexis, went into surgery for a benign brain tumor only to come out with a rare, devastating condition called hypothalamic obesity. The part of her brain that regulates energy and appetite was damaged.
Consequently, she continually gains weight inspite of dieting and exercise. As Jenny describes, “These kids will literally eat themselves to death. That's what I'm scared of.”
Now 12 years old, Alexis is 4 foot 7, weighs almost 200 pounds, has type 2 diabetes, recently had a kidney infection, has lost all friends, and reportedly told her psychologist, “she wants to die.”
The recommended gastric bypass surgery to control her hunger was denied by TRICARE medical insurance due to Alexis’ age. While the Shapiros planned to appeal, the media attention and a GoFundMe campaign resulted in more than $50,000 raised.
