Community rallies to help with girl's medical treatment

By Staff
Melissa Cason
A benefit concert will be held at the Russellville Recreation Center later this month to raise money to cover travel expenses for a 10-year-old patient to receive the treatment she needs.
The benefit will help cover travel expenses for Paige Davis to treat her Hereditary Chronic Pancreatitis, which is a rare form of pancreatic disease.
Peggy Dollrath, Paige's mother, said her daughter was diagnosed with the disease two years ago, but she is already in the chronic stage of the disease.
"She was diagnosed when she was eight, and she was already considered chronic which is extremely rare," Dollrath said.
Because the disease is very rare, especially in children, Paige must travel to Cincinnati, Ohio, to receive treatment, and while she does have health coverage, travel expenses are not considered for coverage.
"It takes us about seven hours to drive to Cincinnati, but we don't really have a choice because there are no doctors in Alabama that treat this disease in children," Dollrath said.
Hereditary Chronic Pancreatitis is a rare genetic condition characterized by recurrent episodes of pancreatic attacks, which can progress to chronic pancreatitis.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Onset of attacks typically occurs between within the first two decades of life, but can begin at any age.
In the United States, it is estimated that at least 1,000 individuals are affected with hereditary pancreatitis.
Dollrath said since her daughter's diagnosis, she has been in and out of the hospital numerous times, and the pain has become so bad that the doctors are considering doing surgery to give her some relief.
"She will eventually have to have her pancreas removed, but they'll have to wait until she stops growing as much before that can be done," Dollrath.
"The surgery we are looking at now will help with the pain she endures during an attack."
She said once Paige has the organ, she will instantly become a insulin-dependant diabetic, and will have to take many doses of medication per day in order to live.
The fundraising event will be held Saturday, July 26 at 5 p.m.
Admission is free, and there will be free hot dogs and drinks available.
However, donations will be accepted to help fund transportation for medical treatment, and to cover other expenses not covered by medical insurance.
A donation account has been established at Bank Independent in Paige Davis' name for donations.