Livermore community comes together for sick teen
LIVERMORE, Calif. (KGO) -- The family of an Alameda County teenager who is battling a life threatening disease got some much needed help. Many people in her community are stepping-up to make a real difference.
"I like to live life to the fullest, but it's really hard because I have a hard time breathing," Mountain House resident Hannah Hewitt said.
Hannah is 16 years old and just wants to be like her friends, happy and healthy. But Hannah has cystic fibrosis which is an inherited life threatening disease that makes it feel like she's breathing through a straw.
"She has been in the hospital numerous times in the last several months. Her left lung is declining rapidly and her overall health is also declining," Hannah's mother, Beth Hewitt, said.
Hannah's family recently moved into a new home that may be making her worse.
"It's being speculated that a lot of the issues she's enduring is a result of the home we bought which we didn't know was infested with black mold, mildew, and rotted boards and what not that were not visible when we made the purchase," Beth said.
The family is now living in a travel trailer. There are seven kids -- four, including Hannah, were adopted with special needs.
With bills stacking up, the family no longer has the means to fix the house and pay all the medical bills. So a family friend put together this fundraiser at barbeque spot Sauced in Livermore. Family, friends and strangers were all happy to help the Hewitts.
"It feels really good to know that people are there supporting me," Hannah said.
The fundraising doesn't stop at the restaurant, there is a donation page set up for Hannah and the donations are tax deductible. The Team Hannah fundraising page makes it easy to help the cause which is officially a non-profit.
