Family and friends of Angela Don are raising funds through the nonprofit Help Hope Live to cover uninsured medical expenses related to her catastrophic illness.
Angela was born with a rare genetic disorder called Mosaic Trisomy 13 and wasn’t expected to survive past birth. In her first year of life, she endured two cardiac arrests, required a long hospitalization, and then lived at The Totally Kids facility until she was stable enough to come home to her family in November 2019. Today, she lives in Lancaster with her devoted mother and younger sister, Aria.
Angela has a complex medical history, including:
Mosaic Trisomy 13 and right unilateral incomplete cleft lip
Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and cleft of the soft palate s/p repairs
Central and obstructive sleep apnea, with a history of tracheostomy (decannulated 10/28/19)
Dysphagia, making her G-tube dependent for nutrition
Large ASD s/p surgical closure, chronic lung disease, and developmental delays
History of C. diff infections, feeding intolerance and diarrhea, and recurrent MRSA skin infections
Groin fistula with stooling from her vagina requiring ongoing management
Mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss (she wears hearing aids)
Severe scoliosis with an abnormal MRI showing a low-lying spinal cord and tethered cord (pending surgical repair)
Hidradenitis suppurativa, recurrent skin abscesses, and aggressive behaviors that require medication, monitoring, and use of a protective helmet.
Angela currently receives home nursing care to help manage her fragile health. She requires skilled support with feeding to reduce aspiration risks, monitoring of her respiratory status and secretions (with suctioning and chest physical therapy as needed), skin care to prevent infections, and supervision for her unsteady gait and high risk of falls.
Despite her challenges, Angela is resilient and full of life. However, her care is becoming more physically demanding as she grows. Angela now weighs 113 pounds, and her wheelchair weighs more than 100 pounds. Safely lifting her in and out of the car and transporting her wheelchair is no longer feasible for her mother, who is also managing chronic health issues of her own.
The family’s most urgent need is a wheelchair-accessible vehicle conversion, which can cost upwards of $75,000 for a brand-new, modified van. This vehicle would allow Angela to safely and comfortably attend her 14–20 medical specialty appointments each year at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles—located 1.5 hours from home—while relieving the physical strain on her caregivers.
Angela and her family have chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live because the organization ensures fiscal accountability and provides tax deductibility for donors. Every contribution will go directly toward medical and related expenses.
To make a tax-deductible donation to Angela’s campaign, please click the Give button.
For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800-642-8399.
Thank you for your generosity and for helping Angela continue to access the care, safety, and opportunities she deserves.
