Sophia’s Story:

What started out as a fun family camping trip quickly turned into a fight to save Sophia’s life. Bridget and Patrick Colby took their children camping in Mammoth. There Bridget noticed that Sophia was running a high fever and her child’s fingernail beds started turning blue. The Colby’s immediately rushed their little girl to a local hospital. She was finally transferred to Children’s Hospital Orange County, where she was diagnosed with HLH. Doctors at CHOC had told the Colby’s that their little girl probably wouldn’t make it, but Sophia is proving them all wrong. The two year old has undergone 8 weeks of harsh chemotherapy, followed by a bone marrow transplant. And on March 21, 2006 doctors had to revive Sophia five times because she kept “coding.”  But today the little girl is getting stronger, and doctors believe she will be cured.

The Colby Family stayed at the Orange County Ronald McDonald House during Sophia’s hospital treatment. “I was 7 months pregnant with Wyatt when Sophia was admitted to the hospital,” says Bridget. “I was so emotionally drained that it was scary to even drive. The Orange County Ronald McDonald House was a blessing for our family. I could be close to my little girl, enjoy the wonderful meals cooked by volunteers, and be surrounded by other parents who are also going through similar situations.”

Her laugh and smile bring joy to all those who meet her. She is simply a “miracle child”.

 

Diagnosis:

Sophia was discovered to have a rare and often fatal disease called Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in August of 2005. The disease causes white-blood cells to accumulate and rage through the body in an effort to attack a virus. But once they kill the infection, they keep multiplying and eventually can attack brain membranes, the spinal cord and organs such as the spleen and liver.

By the time Sophia was diagnosed with HLH, the disease had started attacking her entire immune system.

Click here to make a donation in Sophia’s honor.