Every holiday season, Julie Hagan and family collect donations for the children at Masonic Children’s Hospital, where her daughter Lexie received care.
CHAMPLIN, Minn. — The Hagan family of Champlin considers the Masonic Children’s Hospital a second home. Their oldest daughter, Lexie, was born with a rare metabolic disorder, Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD).
“It falls under a FOD, which is a fatty acid oxidation disorder,” Lexie’s mom, Julie, said. “There’s a whole bunch of different kinds. MCADD is the most common and the least severe.”
Still, MCADD can be fatal for infants if not found and treated right away. Julie said the newborn screening saved Lexie’s life.
Lexie is now an upbeat and active 15-year-old girl. She does impressive stunts in the air on aerial silks, plays percussion in marching band at Osseo High School, and competes in American Ninja Warrior-style competitions.
Though on a daily basis, she has to deal with extra medical needs. She’s on medication and has to fuel up more often than most, eating every four hours so she doesn’t faint. If she gets sick with something like the flu, it’s more severe on her body, landing her in the hospital. She also lives with celiac disease.
Source: Champlin family creates custom-designed crayons to send to Masonic Children’s Hospital