Peyton's Story ~

 

Mitochondrial disease is considered an invisible disease, meaning you can not just look at a person and tell they have it. Peyton and I chose to do this side by side a couple of years ago to show that. Upon meeting Peyton you would likely think she is fine, just like other kids, that her wheelchair is overkill since she can walk, that her use of oxygen is confusing, and be all sorts of confused when all of a sudden you see a drain bag when she isn't wearing a dress. When all is concealed she looks just like everyone else (she is like everyone else in most ways) however... you certainly would not expect all you would find underneath the hood. Everything connected to Peyton is to sustain her life. Nearly all of her smooth muscles no longer function appropriately due to that fact that the mitochondria in her cells do not function which has caused cell death and severe organ dysfunction and at one point failure although we are so blessed to be out of failure status at this time. She still relies on everything from Iv fluids, partial nutrition, medication, tube feedings, gastric decompression, urinary catheterization, oxygen, more about 20 medications that go in her tube daily, leg bracing, a wheelchair Etc... and that is when she is well.

ALL of that equipment shown in her bathing suit was on underneath her dress. Peyton wanted everyone to see exactly what it means to be her, but let you know it doesn't define her.