Stephanie texted late last night to let us know that Harlie fell. Unfortunately, she suffered tremendously due to her very fragile bones from all of the medications she has taken for her rare disease, JDM. Please read below Stephanie’s updates from her personal Facebook page.
Stephanie Valdez: “Harlie took a bad fall. She hit her head hard on cement and blacked out and fell on her hip. She has a huge goose egg on her head and can’t move her leg, praying she didn’t break her hip.. The high doses and long term use of steroids they have given her for her disease makes her bones very fragile and brittle:-( waiting for them to X-ray now..
Long night:-( 6 X-rays on chest, arm, hips legs.. Ct scan on her head.. Surgery in the the morning to place a pin and plate in her hip.. Please pray for her
Harlie will be going into an emergency surgery tomorrow morning (9/10am) to have a pin placed in her hip due to fracture. Her bones are weak and brittle from her steroid treatment and as a result of a minor fall has fractured her hip. We are waiting on CT scan on her head to review severity of swelling in her brain and waiting on X-ray of ankle. We will keep everyone updated and welcome and thank you all for your prayers!”
Gina Szajnuk: “I wanted to add that there is so much going on in the Valdez’s life on a day-to-day basis. Although they were home, Stephanie works around the clock to care for Harlie. Gabe never stops working and caring for the family. Stephanie and Gabe are two of the most dedicated parents I have ever met. Harlie fell by trying to walk in shoes. She fell trying to be a normal teenager. It breaks my heart to know how hard Harlie just wants to be a normal and healthy teenager.
Harlie, Stephanie and Gabe are three of the strongest human beings. This past year has been such a fight for life on a daily basis. We all have things in our lives that are difficult to deal with…but Harlie’s life over the past year goes beyond words. She has changed my life forever. Her strength and her determination is something every young girl should pray to have inside of them.
The picture on the blog post is of the the Valdez family at a wedding together on July 3rd. They are a very beautiful and wonderful family. Their strength as a family is priceless. They have all had to change their lives to live with a rare child. Harlie is very rare and very special. She has touched the lives of thousands.
Also this past week, my husband, Justin, was able to get Harlie and her family tickets for the NBA Utah Jazz Summer League. When I called Justin and asked if he could get more tickets, he said, “I will get the very best for Harlie.” And, he did. They sat right behind the players. It was a night out for them and it warmed my heart to see Stephanie, Gabe and Harlie having fun.
Harlie had so much fun that she wanted to go again later in the week. She had a night out with her sister, C’era and her boyfriend as well as her cousin. It warmed all of our hearts to see her out with family!
Please pray for Harlie. We want her to get back out of the hospital and to enjoy her life. She is a fighter and I know she will get through this. If anyone can do it, it will be Harlie. And, knowing that Stephanie and Gabe are by her side every step of the way…I know Harlie is in the very best possible care.
Thank you for all of your support. Please continue to pray for Harlie to be safe and healthy.
