One of Caitlin Butcher's passions is theater.
Butcher, who is 11 years old and attends Medical Lake Middle School, saw her first show, "Annie," when she was seven. She loves to watch dramas and occasionally performs with Spokane's Christian Youth Theater. In fact, she is getting ready to audition for the theater's adaptation of "The Lion King Jr." in January.
In August, Butcher and her family traveled to New York to watch a Broadway production of "Wicked" and she had the opportunity to meet the cast.
Butcher's trip to New York was through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Since May 2015, Butcher has been battling several heart/blood issues, as well as problems with her spleen and liver. Butcher and her family were recently informed by doctors that she has developed Caroli Disease, which according to rarediseases.org is a disorder characterized by a widening of the ducts that carry bile from the liver. She and her family will travel to Stanford University Medical Center for testing in late January.
Butcher's mother, Renee Butcher, explained her daughter's health issues started when she was in the middle of class and she began fainting. About once every two months, the family travels from Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane to the Seattle Children's Hospital for lab testing.
"It progressively got worse and there were problems with her tongue," Renee Butcher said. "The doctors don't know exactly what's wrong. They know it's autoimmune (disease). That's why we are going to Stanford."
The family will be there for a week at a time until doctors can come up with a solution. Doctors will conduct lab work on Butcher's DNA and genes to see if her disease is hereditary. Renee Butcher said she and her husband had already sent DNA samples to Stanford.
"The doctors felt it was more important to have some of the (samples) upfront than wait for everyone to get there," Renee Butcher said.
District psychologist Tawni Barlow has been working with the Butchers at the recommendation of Michael Anderson Elementary teacher Susan McMillian. Barlow works with Caitlin Butcher's classmates, explaining to them that her illness is a chronic disease and not contagious. She also helps the family with medical plans and talking with care providers.
"Whenever Caitlin gets tired in class, she will go to my office for a 'brain break,'" Barlow added. "She will work on homework or work on a puzzle."
Barlow also spearheaded the "We Got U - Help for Caitlin" T-shirt fundraising campaign helping cover the Butchers' traveling expenses. Barlow said fundraiser not only helps cover the Butchers' traveling costs, but is also designed to support the family.
"The shirt's design has emojis on the front because Caitlin loves them," Barlow said. The emojis, small digital icons used to express an emotion in electronic communication, form the letter C.
Barlow said there will also be a district-wide staff versus staff fundraiser basketball game, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 28, at Medical Lake High School.
Despite her health issues and the uncertainly of the road ahead, Butcher said she would like to continue acting when she gets older. She also has another passion she would like to pursue.
"What else do you want to do (when you get older)?" Renee Butcher asked.
"A marine biologist," Butcher said.
To order a T-shirt, visit bcicreative.com/wegotu. Prices range from $12-20 and sizes are youth, adult, 2XL and 3XL.
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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