Having any child with a disability is hard on a family financially and emotionally. However, Albuquerque is coming together to help this little girl with a rare disorder called Rhett Syndrome. This little girls house has to be completely redone to help her live with her disorder and stores, neighbors, and friends are pitching it give make family the best home possible.
A local father and veteran is fighting for his little girl as she battles a rare disorder. Now, the Albuquerque community is stepping up to help build her a better future.
“She was born a healthy baby. She came out healthy, crying and everything like that," remembers Josh Poulsen.
It’s not easy for Poulsen to watch home video of his rambunctious baby girl, Alexandria.
"She used to be able to crawl, to be able to move and kind of grab things," he said.
But one day, seemingly out of nowhere, things changed.
"About six months old, we realized something was wrong with Alex. She wasn't meeting her milestones like she should be," he said.
Countless tests later, the heartbreaking news, a diagnosis that’s changed the Albuquerque family’s life.
Alex has Rhett Syndrome. It’s a neurological disorder, a severe form of autism that almost exclusively affects girls.
The four-year-old has a rare mutation of the disorder and has scoliosis as well.
"She can't feed herself, she can't bathe herself, she can't walk, she can't get up," said Poulsen.
Poulsen, a disabled Kuwait and Iraq War veteran is now on the most important mission of his life.
"Everything we can do I'm going to go out and get it," he said.
Determined to make Alex’s life better, Josh is turning his attention to their home.
After putting it on the market for eight months without luck, he wants to make it bigger and more accessible for her.
But it’s not cheap. Just replacing sewer lines costs $8,000.
It is money Josh won’t have to pay.
Many local home building and improvement companies have stepped forward to help.
"It's about a four-day process 12 about 120 feet," describes Steven Jaramillo of Roto Rooter.
“Roto Rooter is glad to donate time and money and labor to get this job done for them."
Josh estimated transforming the house will cost more than $250,000.
"There's no words for how grateful I am for everyone of those who're helping," he said.
The hope is to have the house on Albuquerque’s Southwest side completed in about five months.
But there are still some things the house needs including a general contractor, landscaping materials and lumber.
For more information go to KOB.
A local father and veteran is fighting for his little girl as she battles a rare disorder. Now, the Albuquerque community is stepping up to help build her a better future.
“She was born a healthy baby. She came out healthy, crying and everything like that," remembers Josh Poulsen.
It’s not easy for Poulsen to watch home video of his rambunctious baby girl, Alexandria.
"She used to be able to crawl, to be able to move and kind of grab things," he said.
But one day, seemingly out of nowhere, things changed.
"About six months old, we realized something was wrong with Alex. She wasn't meeting her milestones like she should be," he said.
Countless tests later, the heartbreaking news, a diagnosis that’s changed the Albuquerque family’s life.
Alex has Rhett Syndrome. It’s a neurological disorder, a severe form of autism that almost exclusively affects girls.
The four-year-old has a rare mutation of the disorder and has scoliosis as well.
"She can't feed herself, she can't bathe herself, she can't walk, she can't get up," said Poulsen.
Poulsen, a disabled Kuwait and Iraq War veteran is now on the most important mission of his life.
"Everything we can do I'm going to go out and get it," he said.
Determined to make Alex’s life better, Josh is turning his attention to their home.
After putting it on the market for eight months without luck, he wants to make it bigger and more accessible for her.
But it’s not cheap. Just replacing sewer lines costs $8,000.
It is money Josh won’t have to pay.
Many local home building and improvement companies have stepped forward to help.
"It's about a four-day process 12 about 120 feet," describes Steven Jaramillo of Roto Rooter.
“Roto Rooter is glad to donate time and money and labor to get this job done for them."
Josh estimated transforming the house will cost more than $250,000.
"There's no words for how grateful I am for everyone of those who're helping," he said.
The hope is to have the house on Albuquerque’s Southwest side completed in about five months.
But there are still some things the house needs including a general contractor, landscaping materials and lumber.
For more information go to KOB.
