At ten years old, Kandice Young has spent more time in hospital rooms and doctors’ offices than most people will in their life.

She suffers from Heterotaxy Syndrome, a rare congenital heart disease, and also pulmonary vein stenosis, which stops blood and oxygen from flowing to the lungs.

Her family is now considering an experimental surgery in hopes of giving the youngster a brighter future.

“It’s a big operation for her heart,” her mother, Derika Young, said.

“We were recently given a few options — to do nothing or there was another procedure they didn’t think she would benefit from.

“With this one it’s a risky surgery and she may end up with a pacemaker or other devices I don’t want her to have, but it may be the best shot she has at living a longer life.

“There’s no telling how long she can survive like she is now, but by putting her on the table we don’t know if she will come out alive, so it’s a very hard decision to make.

“There are mixed emotions. Every time we go out there to Boston Children’s Hospital, they book the surgery and then I don’t know if I want to do it.

“Some people tell us to go for it, others say just leave her how she is and let the condition run its course, but it’s something only myself and my family can decide.”

While the family grapples over the important decision, others in the community are helping to raise enough funds to pay for Kandice’s ongoing medical expenses.

Event organiser, Noel Stanley Williams, has decided to donate proceeds from his Annual Solid Gold Old School Reunion Party, on November 1, to Kandice’s family.

He said he learned of their plight three years ago and decided now was the time to do something to help.

“Being a friend of the family, I got to know about the serious illness of Kandice and knew she was in need of serious help, not only with her medical expenses but with herself, meaning her condition,” Mr Williams said.

“I’m a God-fearing person and sincere about giving back so I elected to dedicate my next event to her.

“I couldn’t imagine the pain that someone like her has to go through and wanted to do everything possible to make this fundraiser a success. Now my Annual Solid Gold Party is an official fundraiser for the family.”

Paying for her daughter’s treatment has been one of the biggest challenges of the past few years, Ms Young said.

“Because of what Kandice has she tends to get sick a lot and most of the weight from those treatments, whatever is not covered by insurance, falls on me and my family,” she said.

“So to have someone else, a family friend, offer their help was very touching because it’s been hard.”

Ms Young said she carried her daughter full-term during pregnancy and didn’t realise anything was wrong until her baby was born.

“Kandice was blue and that was the first sign something wasn’t right,” she explained.

“The doctors took her from me and took her straight into the newborn Intensive Care Unit.

“Then her paediatrician Dr Perinchief came in and explained that Kandice was very sick and had to be flown away or she wouldn’t survive.

“Once she got to the US, they had technologies available and specialists who were able to explain what was going on and it was a lot easier to comprehend because at that point she didn’t look sick to me.”

Although it’s been hard to watch her daughter suffer, Ms Young said she has tried to remain strong for her five other children.

“With Kandice I have to take it as it comes, one day at a time,” she added.

Kandice acts as a normal child, for the most part but she tends to get tired very easily and has breathing problems.

“Where we live there are steps and when she walks up she automatically gets tired,” Ms Young said.

“She had to be pushed around in a stroller up until she was four. She also had to learn that when her body says ‘stop’, to stop.

“She can’t do gym class with the rest of the children, so she just wears her PE clothes and can’t do anything so she sits out.”

Kandice is described as a very well-mannered and loving child. Her teachers and classmates at Paget Primary are always looking out for her and get concerned whenever she misses any school.

“The teachers will call to ask how she is and the children in her class will send cards,” Ms Young said.

“Kandice gets really emotional and starts crying when the children welcome her back at school.

“They will run up to her and give her a hug when she gets back and that’s really overwhelming for her.”

For more information on how you can support Kandice’s family through the Annual Solid Gold Old School Reunion Party, see sidebar.