About Us

We are a 501(c)(3) public charity. We are registered with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Office of Consumer Affairs pursuant to the Virginia Solicitation of Contributions Law. A financial statement is available upon written request from the Office of Consumer Affairs. Contact the Office of Consumer Affairs at P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, Virginia 23218. (804) 786-2042, Toll free in VA: 1-800-552-9963.

Board of Directors

Gigi Frio, BB&T Bank
Ashley Hall, Katelyn Hall Foundation Founder
Michael Hall, Katelyn Hall Foundation Founder
MaryAnn Hall, General Manager of Cathedral Avenue Coop
Caleb Kershner, Law Office of Caleb A. Kershner
Charles King, Law Office of Charles L. King
Krystyna King

Officers

Michael Hall, President & Chairman of the Board
Caleb Kershner, Vice President
Charles King, Secretary
Ashley Hall, Treasurer

Formation

We formed the Katelyn Hall Foundation because our daughter, Katelyn Marie Hall, was born extremely premature. She was born on Nov 16, 2003 at 25 weeks gestation via emergency C-section.  She came into this world at such an early gestational age due to the rapid onset of HELLP Syndrome (Hemolysis Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets) in her mom and they had to quickly deliver Katelyn to save both of their lives.  Katelyn weighed 15.5 oz and was 11 ¼ inches long.  She had IUGR (IntraUterine Growth Restriction) and was the equivalent of a 21 weeker when she was born.  We were told she had about a 5% chance of surviving.  But, she had a different plan.  After 159 days (over 5 months) in the NICU at Georgetown University Hospital, Katelyn came home.

During her stay at the NICU she endured many of the obstacles that are presented to these micro preemies.  She was on the ventilator for 2 months and as a result suffers from chronic lung disease (CLD/BPD).  Finally after 2 months she graduated to CPAP and much to her dismay spent about a week with that awful thing strapped to her nose.  From there she went to vapotherm (high flow humidified nasal cannula) and then finally to a regular low flow nasal cannula.  She had heart surgery at one week old to close her PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosis).  She had multiple blood and platelet transfusions during her first two months of life.  She suffered a number of brain injuries including:  a Grade I IVH, a lesion in the thalamus, suspected PVL that was later ruled out, 80% atrophy of her left cerebellum, 20% atrophy of her right cerebellum, and overall atrophy of the brain.  At about a month and half old, she started having seizures and they suspected a fungal meningitis, but a spinal tap grew nothing.  She had many infections and was on many different antibiotics. She developed Stage 3+ ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity), which was corrected with laser surgery.  She also had hypothyroidism.

 

Katelyn came home on oxygen, an NG tube, an apnea monitor, a pulse ox monitor, neb treatments 4 times a day, and on 10 different medications.  For the first several months at home she was fed continuously through her NG tube via a pump due to risk of aspiration (something she did once in the hospital after an eye exam and had to go back on the ventilator for a brief period of time).  She finally got rid of her NG tube at 9 months of age (actual age).  She also suffers from a fairly bad case of GERD (Reflux).  She suffers from slight cerebral palsy (CP) on the left side of her body. She receives speech, physical, and occupational therapy through the county along with private speech, occupational, and physical therapy to address her issues. But despite these things she is progressing beautifully and has surpassed many of the possible outcomes that may have resulted from her extreme prematurity. She didn't start walking until she was 3 and talking until she was 4, but she hasn't stopped since and has defnitely made up for lost time. Please visit her personal website at www.katelynsjourney.com to learn more about her and see pictures.