Living immune deficient, Charlotte girl pushes through to help others

On Oct. 1, Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital kicks off 25 Days of Hope in honor of the 25th annual Hopebuilders 5K. The hospital’s signature fundraising event, sponsored by Barings, typically draws north of 1,200 participants who gather to run or walk together in support of Levine Children’s Hospital.

It took five years to diagnose 12-year-old Rylee Vogel with Specific Antibody Deficiency (SAD).

“The daily battles she faces, especially during a pandemic, and the treatment she goes through on a monthly basis just to keep her healthy and live a life a normal preteen would.”

Patients who otherwise produce normal immunoglobulin levels but who lack the ability to produce protective IgG molecules against the types of organisms that cause upper and lower respiratory infections are said to have SAD.

SAD is sometimes termed “partial antibody deficiency” or “impaired polysaccharide responsiveness.”

For the past five years, the Vogel family has laced up their shoes for the annual Hopebuilders 5K.

“I want to raise funds to help with advocacy and awareness for those like her. Research to improve medications to make her life a better quality. I also love the support we get from families like ours,” Terriann Vogel said.

Given the current pandemic, the fundraiser will feature a different format this year.

“Although we can’t gather in person this year, we certainly want to celebrate the hope that this event continues to bring to our patients and families at Levine Children’s,” said Dr. Stacy Nicholson, president of Levine Children’s Hospital. “This truly a community event, made possible by the generosity of our longtime sponsors like Barings and WSOC, to the runners, teams, patients and caregivers who all dedicate their time to building hope for our hospital.”

The Hopebuilders 5K was founded by two local families whose children were both battling cancer and had to seek medical care outside of Charlotte.

For the Vogels, their favorite part of the 5K is the support and sense of community, especially during a troubling time.

“Having a child with an immune deficiency makes living life these days so much harder than an average person,” Vogel said.

Each day leading up to Oct. 25, the hospital — via social media — will share stories of hope from grateful patients' families, community advocates and even from health care heroes serving on the front lines of Levine Children’s Hospital. On the final week, participants are encouraged to safely run or walk in their neighborhoods and complete the distance of a 5K.

Levine Children’s Hospital has grown to provide the care patients need right here in the community and, for the 13th consecutive year, has been recognized as the best children’s hospital by U.S. News & World Report. Hopebuilders has played a role in this success, raising over $2 million for Levine Children’s Hospital.

“We hope the community will join us in making this another successful year for Hopebuilders,” said Callie Dobbins, vice president and facility executive for Levine Children’s Hospital. “And we hope you’ll share in the celebrations of our patients who are completing final chemo treatments; receiving lifesaving heart care; learning to walk again after a traumatic injury; living with kidney disease; and so much more. These are stories of resilience that inspire us all.”

Vogel believes compassion and empathy will improve the community.

For event registration details, visit hopebuilders5k.org.

Participants will receive event shirts and bibs in the mail, and top fundraisers will have the opportunity to receive signed Carolina Panthers items.

If you have an inspiring story to share, email Kevin Campbell, WSOC-TV/WAXN-TV/Telemundo Charlotte public affairs manager, at Kevin.Campbell@wsoctv.com.

Cox Media Group