Little Keeva Baillie is 4 years old from Kirkconnel and is currently in Edinburgh Royal sick kids’ hospital. Keeva has Arnold Chiari Malformation which means the lower part of the brain pushes down into the spinal canal.
Keeva had decompression surgery when she was 3, this is where the take a piece of bone away at the back of the skull to create more room for the brain and to help relieve some of the symptoms, however this is not a cure.
On the 5th of August for an operation called duraplasty, the plan was to open up the cover of the brain called the dura and sew in a patch of tissue to make the dura bigger; this was to hopefully allow the fluid to come out the spinal cord and stop paralysis and sclerosis. Keeva got home and one week later developed a CSF leak, so bk to Edinburgh it was and they tried to repair the leak. This however didn’t work so she then got a lumber drain put into her lower spine, sadly this stopped working the next morning so Keeva was sent back to theatre to try again.
In the space of 6 days little Keeva has had 5 operations and just last week (Friday) she had to have another emergency operation as the drain had become loose yet again Keeva has been a warrior since birth! She was born with a hole in her heart and has had 2 heart operations and is still being monitored closely.
Keeva has a big brother Conlan who has his own battles with type 1 diabetes and a baby sister Kerryn who been in hospital too for a few tests. At Keeva’s side is her Mummy Jodi Mckie. Jodi has been to hell and back and yet still remains strong for her 3 children.
The just Giving Appeal page was set up on Wednesday By Andrea Thomson and Lisa Black. Lisa who also suffers from Arnold Chiari Malformation and has been in hospital since birth and both know what the family is going through.
The appeal has amounted a staggering amount of £2335 already and other locals have been raising money too, Nith Valley Embroidery raised £550 with a raffle in the shop and Jade Haddow who runs Handmade by Jade has raised £135 with a raffle too.
If You would like to donate please click the button below
All the money will be going to Jodi to help with the expenses of travel and staying up in Edinburgh and any extra will be used to treat Keeva, Conlan and Kerryn.
