Cleopatra Carter-Olvera

Meet Cleo. She’s a four-year old who lives in San Antonio, TX. Cleo is spunky, mischievous, and stubborn little girl who likes to play with blocks and help Mommy “clean” the house. Her favorite food is Mexican food, and her favorite activity is swimming. She has a close relationship with her grandfather, and has an amazing, loving support group working to have her reach her highest potential. Cleo is very quiet, but occasionally she will speak full sentences and surprise everyone around her. Cleopatra is diagnosed with one of the rarest conditions in the world, called Spastic Paraplegia Type 47. There are only six children in the United States ever diagnosed, and Cleo was the forth discovered. What makes her unique is that the other children have two mutations in their DNA, and Cleo has three. Currently, Cleo is the only one in the world with her genetics. Cleo is using a wheelchair, and needs a vehicle to accommodate.

Family and friends of Cleopatra Carter-Olvera are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Spastic Paraplegia Type 47.

Cleopatra is in need of a vehicle due to a slowly-progressing neurodegenerative disorder (SPG47) that generally presents with global developmental delay, moderate to severe intellectual disability, impaired/absent speech, small head size (microcephaly), seizures, and progressive motor symptoms. Hypotonia (low-muscle tone) develops into hypertonia (high-muscle tone), resulting in spasticity of the legs that leads to the inability to walk (non-ambulation) and wheelchair reliance. Spasticity may progress to the upper extremities, leading to the partial or total loss of use of all four limbs and torso (tetraplegia). Associated complications include dysphagia, contractures, foot deformities, dysregulation of bladder and bowel function, and a pseudobulbar affect. Intellectual disability in older children is usually moderate to severe. She will need a vehicle that can accomedate to her current and future needs as this disorder progresses.

Cleopatra has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!