Makenzie’s Story

Site created on January 30, 2021

Hi Friends and Family! 

On Christmas Eve Makenzie was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis. It is an autoimmune condition that causes skin changes and muscle weakness. For our girl, this has resulted in a “rash” on her face and a fast decline of her muscles all over. We had our initial rheumatologist appointments and she started aggressive treatments on 1/6/21. Unfortunately, she was not improving so on 1/21/21 she was admitted to the hospital. There they placed her on an NG feeding tube and did 5 days of aggressive IV steroid treatments and an IVIG treatment. We’re settling into our new schedule at home of feeding her every 4 hours through the NG tube but she’s struggling greatly with throat pain from it. While in the hospital she had to have her NG tube replaced 3 times so her throat is raw from the scratching of the tube going down. She cannot swallow effectively so we’re giving meds through her NG tube of Tylenol, Motrin, and Jesus. Please join us in praying for overall healing, throat healing, and sleep.
Makenzie has a long road ahead of her to get her body moving and on the road to remission. She will have weekly IV steroid infusions and IVIG as needed in the foreseeable future. She will have OT, PT, and ST as well. Please follow us here for more updates on Makenzie’s story. 


 For those interested in supporting further, please visit her Go Fund me page below.  We are grateful for every single prayer and gift.  
https://www.gofundme.com/f/makenzie-weddels-fight-w-dermatomyositis?utm_medium=email&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=p_email%2B2300-co-team-welcome


Thank you!
David & Amy Weddel (and Colton 😎)

Newest Update

Journal entry by Amy Weddel

Hi Friends and Family!

Well, it’s been a minute (+ 5 months) since I last updated. Real life took over once physical therapy was done for Makenzie, and we’ve been going hard since. Football for Colton, my crazy season at work, gym for David, and workouts for Makenzie. She’s been doing 3 personal training workouts a week (no, not with David 😉) and 1 private volleyball session. We didn’t have her participate in school volleyball this year so she could focus hard with her trainers. But y’all, look at the picture below. This girl had her first club volleyball practice last night and I’m just amazed. She’s so strong and so close to being back where she was.

It’s hard to imagine that this time last year is when we first started to really take notice of Makenzie’s muscle symptoms. Her first doctor visit with her primary was 12/17/20 (also David’s birthday) when the world just stopped. We have come almost full circle since that time. FULL CIRCLE. It’s just amazing.

Infusions continue monthly but after her rheumatologist appointment last week, the doctor agreed we can stop the large doses of IV steroids (solumedrol) and do small IV doses of hydrocortisone and IVIG. The hydrocortisone helps counteract any side effects from the IVIG. She’s moving from monthly blood work to every other month and the doctor doesn’t want to see us for 3 months! So crazy!!

Thank you for following along with our journey and supporting us every step of the way. This path left its mark but what a recovery! We’ll of course be watching closely, and she will continue to get annoyed with me for asking her how she feels multiple times a day but that should eventually wear off…maybe.

For now, know we are counting every one of you in our blessings this year. We are still overwhelmed by the support that was poured out to us all. One of the hardest parts for me was to see how much you all loved us and to know that Jesus loves us so much more. I had one very long hysterical crying session with a friend in the gym one day attempting to fathom why you all jumped in and did what you did and how in the world could Jesus top that. I just don’t get it, thankfully I’m not meant to. But I’m forever grateful for my precious Jesus and every one of you.

Hug your loves ones for us and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

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