Allison Henry

Allison was born 10 weeks early and had an 88 day NICU stay at Saint Peter’s in New Brunswick. She was born with grade 4 interventrical hemorrhaging. Day 5 of life we were told that she would not make it. Allison was placed on multiple breathing machines, had 10 chest tubes placed, and had 9 brain surgeries and 1 gastrointestinal surgery in her 88 day stay. She did defy the odds and was taken off breathing machines and mastered breast-feeding at 34 weeks!

We were home for about a month until Allison started to develop complications with her shunt and we were admitted back to Saint Peter’s. Allison received another 4 brain surgeries during this stay and then we requested a second opinion for a CHOP provider. We were transferred by ambulance the same day to CHOP for the remainder of our services.

To this day, Allison has been diagnosed with the following: hydrocephalus, optic nerve atrophy, cortical vision impairment, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy.

Many of the medical items that we need are covered with insurance, like medication, therapy, hospital stays, specialized food for her to be G Tube fed. But many things continue to get denied because Allison becomes just a number to insurance. Allison has been denied a proper stander, a toileting chair that will help with showering as well. And insurance has fought us with getting her an electric bed to make transferring easier for nurses and family members. We have been denied about 5x with wish granting agencies.

We know Allison has such an amazing support group and we hope to help fund some of her medical items for now and the future. No amount is too small. We love and appreciate all of you that follow Allison.