Community Corner
Oak Forest Girl, 9, Recovering From Nearly Fatal Brain Hemorrhage
"She is proof that miracles really do happen," a GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover medical expenses for Katelyn Oehrlein.
OAK FOREST, IL — The Oak Forest and surrounding communities have come together to support a 9-year-old girl who is recovering from a nearly fatal brain hemorrhage. Supporters of Katelyn Oehrlein have helped raise more than $43,000 for medical treatment in one week.
A GoFundMe account was set up to help the Oehrlein family on Aug. 2. A goal of $50,000 has been set, and funds are nearly there.
"For those of you who don’t know Katelyn, she is a sweet 9-year-old little girl, who loves to draw, spend time with family, and goof around with her little brother," the GoFundMe reads. "On June 30th she suffered a brain hemorrhage due to an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) rupture. As a result, Katelyn got very sick before being rushed to the hospital."
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Katelyn was seeking emergency treatment at Christ Hospital, where she received several surgeries — slowly regaining strength. On Aug. 6, Katelyn was welcomed home by family and friends, but still has a long road of recovery ahead of her.
"She will then have intense rehabilitation 3 times a week," the GoFundMe continues. "Unfortunately, this specific AVM could not be corrected with surgery because of location and size. Katelyn will need to do gamma knife radiation with close monitoring for the next year to correct the AVM."
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The fundraiser is aimed to help Katelyn's parents, Dave and Kelly, with hospital bills they will receive, on top of therapy and doctor visits that will be needed in the next year.
"They have gone through so much in the last month, and we hope to relieve a little bit of stress for them," the GoFundMe states. "If you’re able to donate or not, say a prayer for Katelyn, she deserves the world! We appreciate the help and so will they!"
"Please keep praying since she has a lot of treatment still left. But she is proof that miracles really do happen."
As of Monday morning, the fundraiser has reached $43,248 raised of the $50,000 goal. See Katelyn's GoFundMe here.
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