Parents need help from community

A local family whose newborn child is having medical problems is reaching out to the community for help.

Superior residents Matt Schemel and Angela Stepan are the parents of 8-month-old Alija, who was born July 1.

Schemel said that Alija has intractable seizure disorder, a neurological disorder that causes her to go into unpredictable seizures.

Complications have since given Alija respiratory problems and she is now on oxygen 24 hours a day.

Schemel and Stepan have Medicaid, but the medical bills and travel expenses that have arisen along with Alija's sickness have become a serious burden on them, according to Schemel, who added that members of the community have stepped forward to help them raise money for their daughter.

With the help of their friends Tammy Wieweck, Joyce Ratzlaff and Carla Youngkin, Schemel and Stepan said that they have organized donation jars to be put up in local businesses and are in the process of planning a fundraiser concert to raise money for Alija's medical expenses.

Youngkin said that the fundraiser will be held April 19, but they are still deciding on a location.

She added that local businesses have already promised to donate prizes for a raffle and a silent auction.

Youngkin said anyone who donates to Alija's medical care will be recognized on a poster at the fundraiser.

Schemel said Alija's problems force them to drive to Missoula twice a month and they are preparing to take their second trip to the Seattle Children's Hospital and Medical Center.

Alija is on three different types on anti-epileptic drugs and she needs four to six hours of physical therapy each day, said Schemel.

He said that he and Stepan have had to get training in physical and massage therapy.

“Developmentally, she's way behind,” Schemel said.

Alija is being fed through a feeding tube and is on an expensive diet.

Schemel said that her ketogenic diet is designed to control seizures and contains no sugars or carbohydrates.

“It's all fat and protein,” Schemel said.

Schemel works at the Eureka Pellet Mill and Stepan stays at home to take care of Alija.

“We appreciate everything people are doing to help us out and look forward to opportunities to help people out in return,” Schemel said.

For more information about the efforts to help Alija, contact Gordon Hendrick at 822-4938.