WCCO Stories About Sidney
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Read or watch the stories that WCCO broadcasts about
Sidney and her disease here!
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11.11.2007 "Baby Seeking Transplant Getting Needed Evaluation"
"Baby Seeking Transplant Getting Needed Evaluation"
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11.18.2007 "Doctor Says Baby Needs Multi-Organ Transplant"
"Doctor Says Baby Needs Multi-Organ Transplant"
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(WCCO) A Shakopee baby with an extremely rare disorder is facing a multi-organ transplant. Three-month-old Sidney Markie and her parents returned on Sunday from Miami, where she was evaluated for a small bowel transplant.
Sidney has microvillus inclusion disease which prevents her digestive system from working. Her family fought their insurance company to get treatment in Miami. She spent the week there getting tests.
Her doctor now recommends transplanting seven of her organs to decrease the chance of rejection.
"Dr. Kato specifically said that given the fact that we were able to get her down there sooner, that her chance for survival will be much better. This way it's not an emergency procedure, they can find the right match for her," said Courtney Murray, Sidney's mother.
While in Miami, they learned one of Sidney's kidneys is no longer functioning. Sidney's doctor would like to wait until she's one-year-old for the transplants, but may have to take action sooner if her condition worsens.
03.04.2008 "Baby Needing Transplant Heading To Miami Hospital"
"Baby Needing Transplant Heading To Miami Hospital"
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A Shakopee family is on the way to Florida after receiving a potentially life-saving call to receive a transplant.Little Sidney Markie was born with a rare genetic disorder that keeps her body from absorbing nutrients through her small intestines.
Without a transplant, the disease can cause liver failure. The only place to get the transplant is at Miami's Children's Hospital. The family finally got the call they've been waiting for saying a donor is available.
"It's a good news thing but it's very scary adventure. We weren't expecting it," said Courtney Murray, Sidney's mother.
The family said they've been told with the surgery Sidney has a very good chance of living a normal life.
WCCO
03.09.2008 "Miracle Transplant Comes Through For Shakopee Baby"
"Miracle Transplant Comes Through For Shakopee Baby"
A 7-and-a-half-month-old baby from Shakopee, Minn. is recovering from a multi-organ transplant in Miami.
We first introduced you to Sidney Markie last October. She has a very rare disorder and needed several organs transplanted. Her family battled to get her treatment in Miami.
"Sidney is just an amazing little girl, full of smiles and laughter," said Courtney Murray, Markie's mother.
The child's family thought they'd have more time to prepare for a life saving multi-visceral transplant surgery. They had been planning to move to Miami in April and wait for a donor to become available.
Meanwhile, Markie's health had been deteriorating from microvillus inclusion disease, which prevents her from absorbing any nutrients.
Last Tuesday, a donor had been found.
"We got the phone call, I couldn't believe it," said Murray.
After 12 hours of surgery, Markie received transplanted small intestines, large intestines, liver, stomach, pancreas, bladder, and two kidneys -- in all, a total of eight organs.
The recovery process is extremely delicate and Markie has had some complications. One of the donor kidneys would not function, so it had be removed.
"It's not just day-to-day, sometimes hour-to-hour, even minute-to-minute with ups and downs. It's an extreme rollercoaster," said Murray, adding Markie's outlook is good.
Still, the family knows this is just the beginning of a new lifestyle for the little girl.
"This is really a lifelong battle Sidney will face," added Murray.
It's a situation the family is thankful to have, due to another family's generosity.
"I continue to pray for the family to heal during this difficult time. I hope they know their child will live on through Sidney," said Murray.
The donor was a 6-and-a-half-month-old boy from the Miami area.
Markie's family expects to be in Florida for recovery and follow-up treatments for several months. They're extremely thankful for all the prayers and support coming from Minnesota.
Reporting Maya Nishikawa
WCCO
10.20.2007 "Insurance Struggle For Baby With Rare Disease"
"Insurance Struggle For Baby With Rare Disease"
A Shakopee family is facing a heartbreaking struggle with a 3-month-old little girl who has a rare disease.
"She was the mystery baby," said Courtney Murray, the girl's mother.
Doctors now know what's causing Sidney Markie's life-threatening illness and how to treat it. However, getting the life saving surgery is still out of their reach.
"She's a very strong-willed girl," said Murray.
Looking into Sidney's big beautiful eyes, her parents don't see a sick little girl but each day is a struggle for this little girl. Sidney has a rare genetic disorder called microvillus inclusion disease. It prevents her from absorbing any nutrients or liquids through her small intestines.
"It's been extremely hard emotionally, physically, financially," said Murray.
Sidney receives all her nutrition directly into her bloodstream. She receives liquid nutrition called TPN through an intravenous feeding pump that she's hooked up to 20 hours a day. It provides all of her nutrients and fluids.
Even a small amount of food by mouth will put Sidney's body in distress. The intravenous feeding is only a temporary treatment. The TPN will eventually cause liver failure.
Her only chance for long-term survival is an intestinal transplant and the only place to get it is Miami's Children's Hospital.
"There's no other doctors that have the capability of doing this surgery on her, especially in a baby her size," said Murray.
The parents say they've been told medical assistance may not pay for the surgery. A spokesperson with the Minnesota Department of Human Services says state insurance does cover out of state procedures if deemed effective and necessary and the procedure is not available within the state.
The spokesperson could not comment on Sidney's case specifically. Sidney's parents are still waiting to hear if the surgery will be covered and they say their daughter has no time to lose.
"With her getting sick, it could happen tomorrow, it could just come on quickly. It's very, very frustrating," said Sidney's father Rick Markie.
Sidney's mother as spent hours on the phone trying to find some solution.
"I'm angry, not angry with my family but just angry at the fact that the system isn't working for us," said Murray.
However, they haven't lost hope. They say family and God are helping them get through each day.
"We just continue to fight. I tell everyone around me I won't let my daughter die," said Murray.
Sidney needs to be evaluated at Miami's Children's Hospital before she can get on a transplant list but she can't get evaluated until her insurance is approved.
The family's only hope is to find some way to get insurance coverage or somehow raise the money for the surgery.
The family said they've been told with the surgery, Sidney has a very good chance of living a normal life.
Reporting
Maya Nishikawa (WCCO)
10.23.2007 "Help Pours in for Baby Needing Transplant"
"Help Pours In For Baby Needing Transplant"
(WCCO) Minnesota parents hoping for a life-saving transplant for their infant
daughter are overwhelmed by the support they are getting.
On Sunday we told you about 3-month-old Sidney Markie. She has a rare genetic disorder called microvillus inclusion disease. It prevents her from absorbing any nutrients or liquids through her small intestines.
Sidney is in need of an intestinal transplant, a surgery that's only done in Miami.
Since the story aired Sidney's parents have gotten a lot of phone calls and e-mails offering to help.
They're hoping to start a fund soon but in the meantime they're busy trying to cut through the red tape to get Sidney's surgery now.
"It's heartbreaking especially since I try to care for her during the day and making these phone calls these people can hear this baby screaming. Unfortunately, I can't make phone calls and give her my undivided attention at the same time," said Sidney's mother Courtney Murray.
Minnesota's attorney general is helping Sidney's parents and Northwest Airlines has offered to donate air travel for the surgery.
Sidney's parents originally thought insurance wouldn't cover out-of-state surgery. Their provider, Blue Cross, said it's still getting information and will make a decision soon
11.06.2007 "MN Baby Dying As States Battle Cost Of Transplant"
"MN Baby Dying As States Battle Cost Of Transplant"
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The family of a little girl in need of a life-saving transplant said their daughter is dying because the state of Minnesota and the state of Florida are battling over the cost of an intestinal transplant.
Four-month-old Sidney Markie was born with a rare condition that prevents her intestines from absorbing nutrients.
She is being fed intravenously but that eventually will lead to liver failure.
Sidney's liver is showing signs of stress and the little girl is visibly more jaundiced than she was 10 days ago.
"I am scared. I am getting frustrated. Its too overwhelming -- everything that is going on -- and it's just ... there are no answers," said Courtney Murray, Sidney's Mom.
Sidney has been declared disabled which means she is on full state medical assistance.
The University of Miami Children's Hospital is the only hospital that has successfully performed an intestinal transplant on an infant.
Reporting
Esme Murphy