This brave little girl has been dealt a very tough start to life after being diagnosed with an extremely rare lung disease.
Jewel Hee from Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, supported her daughter, Hazel, after she was told how there were worrying signs in the baby.
The mum explained that Hazel passed all of her newborn screenings, acted, and looked ‘normal’, and didn’t have any growth or development issues after a successful birth.
However, when Hazel was four months old her older sister dropped her on her mat after attempting to pick her up.
Jewel said: “We immediately went to the hospital, but all of Hazel’s tests came back clear.
“We were actually about to walk out of the hospital room after being discharged when the nurse came in because she needed to grab a set of discharge vitals.
“While Hazel was sleeping in her car seat, her vitals showed her oxygen levels were dangerously low.”
Jewel told how it was a confusing situation as to why Hazel’s oxygen levels were so low with doctors even having to use three separate machines to confirm that the oxygen levels were that low.
After dozens of tests, Hazel was discharged with a follow up with a specialist to get to the bottom of her condition.
Over a month later, the youngster was diagnosed with a rare disease named Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease.
Childhood interstitial lung disease, also known as diffuse lung disease, describes a group of rare lung diseases that can affect babies, children, and teens.
These diseases have some similar symptoms, such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and coughing.
Since being diagnosed, Jewel has explained that her daughter now has to take two different types of steroids every day, with this being the only way to aid her due to a cure being unknown.
Although Jewel and the family are forever worried about Hazel’s future, they are getting through every day as best they can.
Jewel, who works as a homemaker said: “There is no cure, very little research, & the doctors said to expect Hazel to be on oxygen for several years.
“Unfortunately, she is still on two different steroids daily.
“Recently we have had some circulation issues in her feet when she is in a crawling position.
“We are worried that Hazel’s insurance coverage could be at risk after we may have visited the ER too many times.”
Jewel has so far raised nearly $20,000 via a GoFundMe page so she can support Hazel throughout her treatment.