Kassiha's Story
Kassiha (rhymes with Messiah) was born in Grenada in 2006. She lives in Grenada with her parents and older siblings. The family attends the Berean Bible Church in Calliste. When Kassiha was born, the doctors were at a complete loss as to the nature of her condition, but her doctors realized that whatever caused her right leg to be so enlarged and mishappen was not manageable. As the baby grew, her right leg grew larger and larger while the rest of her body developed normally. Her family grew quite concerned, and they returned to the hospital for help. The doctors at the Grenadian hospital were still unable to diagnose the underlying problem.
In desperation, members of the Berean Bible Church contacted friends and family in the United States to plead for help for the little girl. As the months went by and Kassiha’s condition worsened, folks in the U.S. contacted doctors and organizations and individuals to see what could be done for her. Finally, the Shriners Hospital for Children agreed to offer passage for Kassiha and her mother Jeanette to Philadelphia, PA, where they are currently staying with Reverend Chiron Thompson, his wife Joy, and their daughters, Kara and Rhea. Once in Philadelphia though, and after testing, the Shriners realized that they could do no more for the baby. So once again, friends made some phone calls to try to help.
Kassiha was sent to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where she was diagnosed as suffering from Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome (KTWS), a very rare vascular deformation disease involving capillaries, lymph nodes and veins. We consider it to be a unique opportunity for a reputable institution like CHOP to be willing to address this rare and complex disease. Unfortunately, CHOP is unwavering in their position to be paid the discounted fee of $81,164.00 before surgery can be initiated for Kassiha. Kassiha’s family lacks the resources to pay the fee and we have not been successful in raising the funds through various sources (church, family members, etc.)
On behalf of the mother Jeanette Francis and the family of Kassiha Francis, we solicit an appeal for financial help to make this surgery possible. CHOP has denied any more medical assistance without some form of payment. Kassiha needs extensive medical intervention in order to save her life.