TJSL Alumnus Creates Cerebral Palsy Fundraiser for Daughter Ivy

April 22, 2014

TJSL Alumnus Ryan Helmick ‘12 and his wife Samantha are calling on the TJSL community to support their fundraiser, “Baby Ivy’s Fight to Beat Cerebral Palsy” in hopes of raising the $70,000 they need to provide their 6-month old daughter Ivy with the immediate medical treatment she needs.

“Anyone’s help is greatly appreciated and no donation is too small,” said Helmick. “There is power in numbers and the more people that hear our daughters story the better chance she has at living a more normal life.”

Ivy was diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy a few months after birth. Doctors believe it was possibly caused by a lack of oxygen to her brain due to her umbilical cord being wrapped around her neck during delivery. She is unable to swallow and has to eat from a tube. She has tight muscles and experiences involuntary muscle contractions.

Doctors do not know if she will ever be able to walk, talk, or eat through her mouth. However, Ryan and Samantha have been told by some doctors that stem cell treatment abroad may be Ivy’s only hope in repairing the damaged brain cells which could allow her to live as normal a life as possible. The success rate for infants around Ivy’s age is 80-85% with the earlier the treatment the better. Ryan and Samantha are currently in contact with institutes and hospitals in Germany, in hopes of getting the procedure done at one of their facilities as soon as possible.

Helmick is currently an associate with Richard Harris Law Firm in Las Vegas where he practices DUI and criminal defense. His brother Kris Helmick ’13 will be joining him after his bar results are released in May.

Please help Ryan and Samantha by sharing their story and spreading the word about their fundraiser. For more information log onto Baby Ivy’s Fight to Beat Cerebral Palsy website.