Sick Goldsboro child reaches out to other sick kids
Quite often, the families of children who have chronic and potentially life threatening illnesses don't have the time or energy to focus on anything but the problem at hand. Eight-year-old Lexi Mathews, who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis shortly after she was born, is turning the tables on how her family deals with her illness.
Posted — UpdatedCuring – or treating – the specific disease or illness, understandably, becomes the chief concern.
"To look at her, you would have no idea that there was something wrong with her," Lisa Lewis, Lexi's mother, said.
Unfortunately for Lexi, the symptoms associated Cystic Fibrosis make looks deceiving.
She needs two breathing treatments day with a special vest that shakes her body. Along with inhaled saline, the treatments help break up thick mucous in her airways.
"Then I can cough it up and spit it out," Lexi said.
She's also had 75 percent of her intestines removed and takes oral medications that would cost more than $12,000 a month if it weren't for health insurance. She also has to take enzymes before meals.
Despite that, Lexi's focus recently has been on reaching out to other children dealing with chronic illnesses.
Recently, she had 10 inches of her hair cut off for Locks of Love, a national non-profit that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.
"Lexi has her hair," Lisa Lewis said. "Lexi doesn't look sick, where kids with cancer often do."
For Lexi, the reason for her special hair cut was simple.
"I wanted to make wigs for them," she said.
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
