Julie’s Spring of 1980 
At age 9, on May 5, 1980
Julie had a case of Chickenpox that suddenly turned tragic. Her fever of 104 + would not come down. The Doctor told her parents to put her in a tub of ice but it did not work! They rushed her to the
Tupelo
Hospital where the Doctors determined that she should immediately be flown to LeBonheur’s Children’s Hospital. When she arrived at LeBonheur, she was diagnosed with more than chicken pox. Now she had double pneumonia and encephalitis. Her fever was so severe she started having seizures. Her body and immune system was so week the chickenpox had completely taken over, inside and outside of her body. Her eyes were swollen shut and she was on a ventilator to keep her breathing. The team of doctors had done everything in their power including experimental treatments. They finally had to tell her parents that there were nothing more that could be done and she probably would not live through the night. She is on record at LeBonheur, as the worst case in history. Her mother’s church came and prayed for her, she started recovering, and the doctors had to put unexplained recovery in her chart.
It was a defiant victory but
Julie’s battle had just begun. This left her badly scarred and disfigured. Friends, family, and church members were very supportive and done everything in their power to help. Part of the treatment was to wear a special mask that was suppose to reform the skin as the swelling went down, but try explaining this to a 9 year old girl who had to wear a mask in public. Kids were cruel. If they were not making fun of her calling names, they would not sit near her. She had to live with scars and people starring all the way through her teenage years. Later in life, the people who don’t know what she’s been through, do not understand why she’s not outgoing, doesn’t like get-togethers with a lot of people or how she feels if attention is turned on her in a public place. Even after the surgery’s the emotional scars are still there.
Julie has overcome a lot in her life. She has now been married for 16 years with 2 children, has a passion to help children and is an advocate for Le Bonheur. She and her husband have created eCareLinks.com to help those who are going through struggles themselves.
God worked a miracle that day, Spring of 1980 and is still working today!
Remember, no matter the struggle you face, God has a purpose for your life!
A special thanks to God, Family, the church members who never stopped believing, all of the Le Bonheur staff and all the doctors, M.D. Anthony, M.D. Wheeler, M.D. Saino, Dr. Janice Burns and many others who helped through out Julie’s life.
Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center
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