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ST. GEORGE — A 5-year-old who has been fighting for her life in Primary Children’s Hospital gets to go home Thursday night and her family is asking Utahns to help give her a hero’s welcome home. In honor of her returning home, the family has released a video documenting her journey.
Josh and Jamie Terry, of St. George, thought their daughter Kycie had the flu when they took her to the hospital in February, but her diagnosis was much more serious.
It turned out Kycie had undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes and was in Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Her brain swelled and she had seizures from the complications.
She was rushed to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Doctors weren’t sure she would survive, but the young girl has been fighting for her life. She is currently in therapy re-learning how to use her body.
The Terry family regularly reports on Kycie's little milestones via the Kisses for Kycie Facebook page, which has over 30,000 likes. Her story has been shared thousands of times around the Internet and, according to the Terrys, has already helped save over 17 other kids with undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes, including 6-year-old Tara. Her mother, Dena, took Tara in to the hospital after she started exhibiting signs of Type 1 diabetes. Dena had read Kycie's story only hours earlier.
"We could have lost (Tara) if I hadn't acted after seeing the article about Kycie," Dena wrote in a post shared on Kycie's Facebook page. "If I had ignored that feeling in my gut, we would be in a very different situation than we are currently in."
After many months of successful therapy sessions, Kycie has been given the green light to return home and her family has set up a hero’s welcome for the little girl.
She will receive a police and fire escort Thursday night around 7:30 p.m in St. George. The Terry family is asking friends and local Utahns to help cheer her on with posters and signs as they drive home. People can line up on the south side of 2450 South in Little Valley community of St. George. The Terry family asks that people don’t drive up 2580 East or come near their house since it is on a cul-de-sac.
“After a long drive we expect to get Kycie right into her home with her brothers. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate all the messages, personal letters, and cards,” The Terry’s wrote on their Facebook page. “We have boxes of gifts, and letters we still need to read through.”
In honor of Kycie’s return home, the family put together a video documenting Kycie’s journey through the hospital and rehab.
For more information on her condition, visit the Kisses for Kycie Facebook page or the YouCaring* donation page.
*KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
