Woodlands Mom Seeks Help to Potentially Save Her Daughter’s Life

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Abigail Lee was born July 23, 2019 at 1:55 p.m. She came into this world at two pounds, nine ounces, and currently at seven months of age, weighs just five pounds, five ounces. Abigail has MOPD type II, also known as primordial dwarfism. The disorder is so rare that only 100 cases are estimated worldwide.

Due to a breech delivery Abigail also has two dislocated hips, which is a common complication of the disorder, though it is typically seen later in childhood. A team of doctors in Wilmington, Delaware that specialize in primordial dwarfism has agreed to visit with Abigail, but her family doesn’t have the means to get there on their own. A GoFundMe page has been established to help cover their travel costs as well as future medical care.

“At this point we’re kind of at a standstill,” said Abigail’s mom, Emily Lee. They’ve visited with local orthopedics, geneticists, and skeletal dysplasia specialists, but unfortunately the medical staff here just doesn’t have the knowledge to help Abigail move forward.

“We know how much food she can take by bottle right now, but we don’t know where to go from there,” Lee said. “Especially with her hip situation … is she going to be able to walk right? Can she crawl at the normal age? We have no idea what the complications could be if we don’t take her to get this looked at,” she said.

While in Delaware, Abigail will meet with geneticists Dr. Michael Bober and Dr. Angela Duker who have researched primordial dwarfism for the last 20 years. Since patients with this disorder are prone to aneurysms, strokes and moyamoya disease, she will also see a neurologist. An orthopedist will examine her dislocated hips, and an MRI will be performed to determine if there are any issues with her blood vessels.

“[These doctors] are the only people with any information,” Lee said. They’re going to be able to determine the best course of action in relation to Abigail’s growth and development, as well as the overall improvement of her quality of life.

“These are the people that are going to save my child’s life,” Lee said. She asks that if you can’t donate monetarily, to send a prayer, whatever you believe, and to those who are able to donate, she thanks you a million times over.

Donate to Abigail’s Journey, here.

Tera Stanley, who donated her time and skills for Abby and her article, took the photographs. The stroller is an actual doll stroller for size reference.

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