Hannah Simpson hasn’t had a chance to enjoy being an active 12 year old for months.
On Christmas Day she was rushed to Seattle Children’s Hospital with a life threatening reaction to one of the medications she takes for a pair of chronic conditions.
Hannah, a sixth grade student at Crestwood Elementary, spent more than 40 days in the hospital fighting complications “due to ulcerative colitis, von Willebrands Disease and adrenal insufficiency,” her mother, Kathy Simpson, explained.
The options were to try an experimental medication or have a series of three surgeries to treat the problems. Hannah eventually had the first surgery and will have the final operation during summer vacation.
Still, despite the rough road, young Hannah has inspired her community to help her family deal with all the challenges that have come with this health battle, Kathy said.
Friends started raising money to offset the financial burden for Kathy and her children of Hannah’s medical bills.
They set up a website to tell Hannah’s story and get out information about fund raising events.
“Hannah has been an inspiration to many,” Kathy said via e-mail. “Charline Fox, one of the moms from Hannah’s school and the wife of one of her old soccer coaches, heard about Hannah and decided it was time she met the CCFA Challenge to run a half marathon this summer in Hannah’s honor.”
Fox, who has lived in Covington for 6 1/2 years, is working on fundraisers throughout the community. She is married and has two children, 10 and 12 years old, and works as a CADD technician for an architectural and engineering firm.
“I learned about CCFA through a co-worker who is a Crohn’s Patient,” Fox said in an e-mail interview. “She is a mentor for Team Challenge.”
She decided to get involved with the Team Challenge for two reasons.
“I want to run a half marathon, my own personal goal,” Fox said. “Second, I know this wonderful girl who is a class mate of my daughter that suffers from ulcerative colitis. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to achieve my own goal while raising money for a great foundation that is trying to find a cure for these horrible diseases.”
Fox said she began training with her team about five weeks ago.
“I try to run every day,” she said. “Then on Saturdays we have a team run led by two coaches that have much insight into how to endurance train. I am quite pleased with my progress. When I started I could barely run half a mile but now I am up to seven.”
Her fundraising has been off to a slow start, Fox explained, but she thinks “the ball might be gaining some speed.”
“I have been sending out e-mails and letters to my friends and family letting them know what I am doing I am also using Facebook to get the word out,” Fox said.
Coming up at 7 p.m. on May 10, Fox has a fundraiser set up at Gonzo’s Bar and Grill in Kent, just a few minutes west of downtown Covington on Kent-Kangley Road. It will be $10 for a bracelet that will allow those who attend to get items at Happy Hour prices and there will be prizes raffled off.
Kathy Simpson said she has not been able to work full time as a teacher in the Renton School District, but she has received donated hours from co-workers as well as intermittent family leave. This has allowed her to stay employed with the school district, she explained, while helping her daughter through this journey.
In addition to donations being accepted on helpinghannah.net, Hannah has put together packets of flower seeds to help raise funds for her and her family. The suggested gift is $1. Seed packets will be available indefinitely at Foss Market in Covington.
Hannah has recently returned to school, attending half days while she regains her strength, and is trying to get back into playing sports like soccer.
“We have some wonderful women in Covington,” Kathy said. “And Charline and Hannah are two of the best.”
