Laila Pettigrew, 13, is receiving treatment in Omaha, Nebraska, far from her home on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Her father, Jeremy, has turned to GoFundMe to offset the costs of staying in Nebraska.
Lakota girl in search of kidney
By Brandon Ecoffey
Lakota Country Times Editor
www.lakotacountrytimes.com PINE RIDGE—Skateboarding culture on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has grown leaps and bounds over the last decade. One little girl has shown potential to be one of the best to ever come out of the village, but to reach her full potential she needs the help of the community. When Laila Pettigrew, 13, was born she was diagnosed with a cloacal abnormality. The genetic defect prevented Laila’s vital organs from separating during the developmental process and has led to a number of health problems for the aspiring young skater. Due to Laila’s health affliction she has suffered a number of health defects that have left her taking on a monumental life and death struggle. In 2009, Laila got very sick and was forced to be flown by life-flight to the Nebraska medicine facility in Omaha. When Laila was born she lost a kidney, and this time she would need one donated. In 2012 a cadaver kidney was given to Laila, but after only three years that kidney is now failing and Laila is in need of a new one. Her father, Jeremy Pettigrew, has reached out to the community asking for help in finding Laila a new kidney and for assistance in defraying the costs of supporting his little girl while endures this early struggle in her life.
Jeremy and Laila Pettigrew are currently in the battle of their lives. Those looking to donate to the family can visit GoFundMe.“I am fundraising in order to continue to be in Omaha for as long as needed for treatment and transplant, to travel back to home South Dakota to maintain my house and property, and to offset the costs of living in Omaha as Laila does dialysis treatments 3 days a week,” said Pettigrew. A round trip drive from the family’s home near Wounded Knee is well over 17 hours. The distance and time required to get Laila the care she needs is tough on Pettigrew who has 3 other children and two high school age brothers that he helps keep an eye out for. Jeremy is reaching out to the community for help because he says that the family needs held paying for food, utilities, gasoline to get to and from treatments, car repairs, clothing, and to give Laila the chance to live a long and amazing life. “We had to leave our home and come to Omaha to receive dialysis treatment seeing as it is the closest place that has pediatric dialysis capabilities. On January 15, 2016, Laila was placed on the organ transplant waiting list in Omaha Nebraska. The last time the wait for a kidney on the transplant waiting list was 2 years. We can help her sooner if we find a living donor. Please call and get checked to see if you can donate to Laila Pettigrew tell them you want to try to donate for Laila. If you can't help with a kidney help with anything you like or can,” said Pettigrew.
Visit the Lakota Country Times and subscribe today
According to Jeremy the family is currently having a very difficult time locating a donor for Laila as she possesses a unique blood type, but he has yet to give up hope. To donate to the Pettigrew family please visit www.gofundme.com/savelailapettigrew and to see if you are a match for Laila please call (800) 401-4444. (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at editor@lakotacountrytimes.com) Find the award-winning Lakota Country Times on the Internet, Facebook and Twitter and download the new Lakota Country Times app today.
Join the Conversation
