News
Sports
ENLARGE
RIFLE — Alexia Rubalcave of Rifle was 3 years old when she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Now, at age 9, she is slower than other children her age and her mother is hoping Alexia can undergo a treatment that will help to cure her.
“She's 9 years old, but she has the mentality of a 4-year-old,” explained her mother, Amanda Rubalcave. “Cerebral Palsy is neurological brain damage. She has problems with her speech, learning and cognitive skills, but she has no paralysis.”
Amanda Rubalcave is a nursing assistant at the state Veteran's Nursing Home in Rifle. She saw a program on television which showed a girl with the same disease as Alexia, who was cured after stem cell transplants.
So Amanda applied to some programs.
“Alexia was accepted into two different programs — one in Germany and one in Costa Rica,” Rubalcave said. “But the insurance doesn't cover any of it — it's considered experimental.”
In Costa Rica, the stem cell transplant involves using a donated umbilical cord which is injected into the lower spine and eventually goes to the brain, Rubalcave said. It's a five-day process, which would require a seven-day stay to include time before and after the procedure.
Rubalcave needs to raise about $25,000 and will leave to get the procedure done on Alexia “as soon as we have the money.”
A benefit fundraiser for Alexia held on Saturday, May 30th raised $1,000, according to Lisa Adam with the Colorado State Veteran's Nursing Home in Rifle.
“It went from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and there were people there constantly,” Adams said.
Those wishing to donate to the fund for Alexia may do so at Alpine Bank at the Alexis Medical Fund.
For more information, call Lisa Adams at 625-0842.
Now, at age 9, she is slower than other children her age and her mother is hoping Alexia can undergo a treatment that will help to cure her.
“She's 9 years old, but she has the mentality of a 4-year-old,” explained her mother, Amanda Rubalcave. “Cerebral Palsy is neurological brain damage. She has problems with her speech, learning and cognitive skills, but she has no paralysis.”
Amanda Rubalcave is a nursing assistant at the state Veteran's Nursing Home in Rifle. She saw a program on television which showed a girl with the same disease as Alexia, who was cured after stem cell transplants.
So Amanda applied to some programs.
“Alexia was accepted into two different programs — one in Germany and one in Costa Rica,” Rubalcave said. “But the insurance doesn't cover any of it — it's considered experimental.”
In Costa Rica, the stem cell transplant involves using a donated umbilical cord which is injected into the lower spine and eventually goes to the brain, Rubalcave said. It's a five-day process, which would require a seven-day stay to include time before and after the procedure.
Rubalcave needs to raise about $25,000 and will leave to get the procedure done on Alexia “as soon as we have the money.”
A benefit fundraiser for Alexia held on Saturday, May 30th raised $1,000, according to Lisa Adam with the Colorado State Veteran's Nursing Home in Rifle.
“It went from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and there were people there constantly,” Adams said.
Those wishing to donate to the fund for Alexia may do so at Alpine Bank at the Alexis Medical Fund.
For more information, call Lisa Adams at 625-0842.
