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Was My Child “I was desperate to find that one doctor
who would think outside the
Going to Die? box and give me hope that I was

going to get her back.”
by Cheryl Young

M y 14-year-old daughter Kori was a through his EO membership, found out
Then my husband, Kurt McLaughlin,
healthy, active, animated girl who
was full of life and energy. Then
everything changed. She became about Healthnetwork. We put a call into
Healthnetwork late on a Saturday afternoon.
bed ridden and unable to be upright for any Within one hour, Whitney called me back and
period of time, spending all her time confined told me everything she would need to get the
to a dark quiet room. She had debilitating process started. She said she would follow up
migraines, was nauseous and dizzy, and could with me on Monday morning and true to her
no longer cognitively process information. word, she did. That day she connected me with
She slowly stopped eating and drinking and Donna Bias at Cedars-Sinai, and the two of
deteriorated to the point where she was them became my lifeline. They treated my
sleeping 23 hours a day and could no longer daughter’s situation with absolute urgency.
walk or even get out of bed. Donna was able to quickly secure an
appointment with Dr. Schievink, and when we
I was literally watching my child arrived at the clinic the first day, she met us
die right in front of me and was at the door with a reclining wheelchair and
desperate to find answers. stayed with us throughout that day and the
next, helping us navigate the system. When
We saw at least 15 different doctors looking Dr. Schievink decided my daughter’s condition
for an explanation for her condition. Time and was grave enough that she needed to be
time again we were told these were migraines admitted to the hospital, Donna made all
caused by her changing hormones and that the arrangements within 15 minutes and
medication was the only solution. But I knew personally took us over to the hospital.
there was more to it. I was desperate to find She gave me her cell number and continually
that one doctor who would think outside the checked in on us over the week, including on
box and give me hope that I was going to get Thanksgiving Day.
her back. The day after Thanksgiving, my daughter
I started doing my own research and spent had the procedure she needed. The first thing
the majority of my time scouring the internet she said to me when she woke up was “Mom,
looking for any kernel of information. I came I don’t hurt anymore.” My heart exploded with
across information about a cerebrospinal joy and tears ran down my face. All the
fluid (CSF) leak and knew in that instant this months of pain and worry and anguish
was what Kori had. I started researching disappeared in that moment. It never would
doctors who could treat this and came across have been possible without Healthnetwork’s
Dr. Wouter Schievink who heads up the CSF connection and Donna’s perseverance. I don’t
Leak Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center think there is any stronger love than that for
in LA. I tried to get an appointment but the one’s child, nor is there any greater pain than
medical system seemed so overwhelming! that for one’s child. The gift they have all given
me is priceless and appreciated beyond words.

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