Local People

Twitter

By Michelle Taylor

Kylie Giel, a 16-year-old Elizabeth Forward High School student, has been recognized not once, but twice, by Make-A-Wish foundation.

Kylie and her younger sister Gianna

Born to Jayme and Dennis Giel on October 9, 1999 three weeks early, Kylie was quickly taken to the NICU for unstable body temperature, a sign of infection, almost immediately upon her arrival. After many tests were run, it was determined that she was just a small baby and all results were normal, but it couldn't have been further from the truth.

In March of 2000, just five months after Kylie was born, her aunt found her in a full-blown seizure. Kylie and Jayme were on their way to McKeesport Hospital, only to be transported to Children's Hospital. Jayme says it was their "home away from home for years to come."

Tests revealed her condition to be Congenital Hyperinsulinism, a genetic disorder where insulin cells in the pancreas secrete too much insulin, which causes low blood sugar.

For the next 16 years, Jayme and Dennis, Kylie, and little sister Gianna endured countless appointments, hospital admissions, feeding tubes, life flights, pancreas removal, finger pricks, blood sugar checks, at-home and school nursing services, and of course medications, but nothing helped Kylie.

One day, a middle school nurse contacted the Giel family and told them that Kylie deserved something special and referred them to Make-A-Wish foundation. Kylie medically qualified for the foundation and met all requirements and was told she should start thinking about her wish. Jayme, although excited that her daughter would receive an opportunity of a lifetime, she was also heartbroken because Kylie was receiving something that she thought only "dying children" received.

When Make-A-Wish volunteers came out to meet Kylie and interviewed her, the Giel family was told that Make-A-Wish is an organization that gives families with children that have a life-altering disease or disorder a chance to briefly forget their medically complicated lives and enjoy them as if all was normal.

Kylie decided on her top three wishes: 1) a family trip to Disneyworld, 2) a meet-and-greet with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and 3) a mac book pro. Before the Giel family knew it, they were on a plane to Florida. Jayme and Dennis admit that, at the time, they never could have given Kylie and Gianna that experience themselves, and because of that, they are forever grateful to the foundation.

Make-A-Wish didn't just stop a family trip to Disney, because, as the foundation says, "As a wish kid, you are never forgotten.” They recently had a charity event called Pens and Pins, where Kylie and Dennis went bowling with the Pittsburgh Penguins and met the players and the coach as well.

Kylie was told she would never be like her peers and she hasn't been - instead she has excelled passed them. Kylie takes advanced high school courses and two college courses provided by the Elizabeth Forward School District. In many ways she is a typical teenager, texting and using social media, participating in the drama club, and earning a purple belt in tae kwon do. She maintains a 4.5 grade point average.

In other ways, though, Kylie is an exceptional inspiration. She crochets stuffed animals and donates them to Children's Hospital, takes custom orders for them and has an Etsy account to sell them as well.

Kylie is a role model to Gianna and her parents are incredibly amazed at her strength and perseverance through her short 16 years. They take pride in knowing they raised not only an independent and caring daughter, but a leader and encouraging young woman of the future.

• < Prev
• Next >