Brave Little Girl Hopes to Ride Her Mule Again

Meet Cali
Cali is a 9 1/2 year old girl that lives with her mother in Fountain, Colorado and has had 14 major surgeries in her young life.  For the last 19 months Cali has also been battling complications from a leg lengthening surgery in June of 2005. Complications immediately appeared and she was diagnosed with deep tissue infection and osteomyletis, an infection of the bone. Constant courses of antibiotics have not touched the proplem becasuse the infection is antibiotic resistant known as a MRSA.  This resulted in the limb breaking and the amputation of her left foot last October. The hope is to eventually have a prosthetic foot; however, due to the serverity of the two bone infections the prognosis is complicated and unresolved. The hugely expensive antibiotic, Zyvox, that is being used to treat the infection causes major side effects.

Cali is a horse/mule crazy girl, who is a member of Pikes Peak Long Ears, a recent 4H member, enrolled in cooking, because she hasn't been able to ride for the last year and a half. Her other loves are church, angels and her cat, Comet.

She has been unable to ride or show her mule Oreo for two summers going on three now because of her medical situation. Cali endures ongoing pain with her limb. She is unable to attend regular school because of fatigue and pain. The goal is to save the remaining portion of Cali's leg from amputation because she is not a good candidate for a full leg prosthetic. Cali will have ongoing medical expenses and unforeseen problems arising from this condition throughout her life. Any donations will go directly to Cali's medical trust fund set up and registered with the state of Colorado, with Cali as the sole beneficiary, to assist her with her present and future needs.
 
Cali is bright, loving and ever so thankful for all her "guardian angels" that support her in her battle. She will welcome all who can step in and lend a helping hand towards her ongoing medical problems. (She does not have any medical insurance to cover this life-long condition.)  Hanover, Colorado Fire Department has set up a tax-deductible account in Cali 's name.  You can make your tax-deductible contribution through PayPal or by going to any Academy Bank. In the Colorado Springs area they are in most Wal-Mart Stores. There you can make a contribution to the "Cali Overcast Savings Fund Hanover Fire Department" or mail in care of Academy Bank, 2835 Briargate Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO  80920. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

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