Anabela Kleyn is just four years old but has already endured a raft of medical conditions more complex than most will see in a lifetime.
From limb defects to additional ribs, being born without her right ear and spina bifida – behind her cheeky smile is a youngster who’s battled each step of the way.
But luckily for the little girl from the Blue Mountains, she also has a mum, Sarah Pearce, willing to fight just as hard to ensure her daughter has the best shot at a normal life.
Anabela Kleyn is just four years old but has already endured a raft of medical conditions more complex than most will see in a lifetime
Luckily for the little girl from the Blue Mountains, she also has a mum, Sarah Pearce, willing to fight just as hard to ensure her daughter has the best shot at a normal life
This journey is now set to take the pair to Boston for cutting-edge, high-risk surgery aimed at putting at stop to Anabela’s potentially fatal choking episodes.
Caused by a rare congenital heart condition, the anomaly results in Anabela’s oesophagus to close up and leaves her choking on food.
‘If she doesn’t have the surgery it could literally mean that she has a choking episode which could kill her,’ Ms Pearce told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Anabela could choke and have a heart attack or her organs could shut down.
‘If the artery gets unintentionally damaged it could aneurysm and she could bleed out.’
Anabela’s health journey is now set to take the pair to Boston for cutting-edge, high-risk surgery aimed at putting a stop to her potentially fatal choking episodes
Apart from the constant risk of choking Anabela also sleeps with a life support machine to monitor when she stops breathing and has been under general anesthesia 30 times for her list of 16 medical conditions
Apart from the constant risk of choking, Anabela also sleeps with a life support machine to monitor when she stops breathing and has been under general anesthesia 30 times for her list of 16 medical conditions.
Anabela’s rare heart condition causes her potentially-fatal choking episodes
However, the surgery needed has never been performed in Australia before and for it to be carried out by experts in Boston is far from cheap.
Originally quoted more than $400,000 for the procedure, Ms Pearce has started a GoFundMe in a bid to ensure her daughter gets the best care possible.
It is hoped the $65,500 now needed will allow Anabela to receive world-class treatment and enjoy the simple pleasures taken for granted by children her age.
But it’s not without risk – in fact 50 per cent of experts agreed Anabela could be better off without the surgery.
However, Ms Pearce says Anabela is left without few options if not for the surgery.
It is hoped the $65,500 now needed will allow Anabela to receive world-class treatment and enjoy the simple pleasures taken for granted by children her age
‘The procedure is life threatening, but they’ve performed 10 of these procedures and they’ve all had success,’ said Ms Pearce
‘The procedure is life threatening, but they’ve performed 10 of these procedures and they’ve all had success,’ said Ms Pearce.
‘This surgery could paralyse her, she could end up in a chair, and it could result in a tracheostomy – all sorts of negatives.
‘But it’s a risk I’m willing to take, with doctors who have experience with this condition. It could save Anabela’s life.’
From limb defects to additional ribs, being born without her right ear, and spina bifida – behind her cheeky smile is a youngster who’s battled each step of the way