Korben Strong

If you know Korben, you know what an incredible little boy he is. He is sweet, smart, brave, and stronger than anyone his age should ever have to be. Korben celebrated his 5th birthday on May 16, and even on his hardest days, he still finds a way to smile, laugh, and brighten the lives of everyone around him.

When Korben was just 4 months old, our world changed forever. He stopped breathing at daycare, became unresponsive, and was rushed to the hospital before being airlifted to Children's Hospital. After eight long weeks of testing, procedures, and uncertainty, he was diagnosed with two extremely rare conditions: Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome and Congenital Hyperinsulinism (CHI).

Since then, Korben has been fighting for his life. He has spent more time in hospital beds than in his own bed at home. Despite every challenge, he continues to show incredible strength and resilience.

In June 2022, Korben was admitted to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where doctors performed extensive testing, adjusted medications, placed a feeding tube, and conducted genetic testing. We hoped we had finally found the answers we needed. Unfortunately, Korben's journey has been far from over.

His blood sugar levels have once again become dangerously unstable, causing episodes of severe hypoglycemia that can lead to life-threatening complications. In addition, Korben suffers from severe neutropenia, which leaves his immune system unable to effectively fight infections—even something as common as a cold can become serious.

Since September, we have been traveling regularly to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to participate in a clinical trial and search for a medication that can help stabilize his condition. During the trial, Korben developed a rash, and further testing revealed yet another obstacle—a tumor on his pancreas. It has been one challenge after another, and we still have a long road ahead.

The ongoing medical treatments, travel costs, and daily living expenses have placed a tremendous financial burden on our family. In order to be by Korben's side and care for him during his treatments and hospital stays, I have been unable to work.

We are asking for help to cover medical expenses, travel costs to and from Philadelphia, lodging, meals, and other necessities as we continue fighting for our son's health. Some of his care is out of state and is not fully covered by insurance, making these expenses even more overwhelming.

Most importantly, we ask for your prayers. Please pray for Korben, for healing, for strength, and for our family as we navigate this journey.

Every donation, share, and prayer means more than words can express. Thank you for standing with us and helping our little warrior continue this fight.

#KorbenStrong ❤️