Woodbridge girl overcomes setbacks, gives back to community

Sarah Kilareski, a 9-year old girl from Woodbridge, has had many setbacks with her health, but hasn’t let that stop her from giving back to the community.

You may have seen Sarah in previous stories on What’s Up Woodbridge for her involvement with the local American Heritage Girls troop, taking part in things like the ‘Souper Bowl of Caring’ and Wreaths Across America.

Her most recent community effort was taking part in the annual Mix 106.5 Radiothon, which is a fundraiser for the John Hopkins Children’s Center, where Sarah received most of her treatment.

According to the John Hopkins Children’s Center website, the annual event has been able to raise close to $16 million, since it began in 1989.

Sarah was diagnosed with the first of many medical issues when she was just an infant, according to her mother Carrie Kilareski.

“When she turned one we noticed that something was very wrong. She had gone from 60^th percentile on the weight-growth chart at six months, to almost zero percent,” said Kilareski.

The first diagnosis was a laryngeal cleft, which is a hole in the airway that makes it difficult to eat or drink, and causes aspiration.

“Something as simple as a glass of water could hurt my child,” said Kilareski.

Unfortunately the hardship did not stop there, as Sarah also underwent surgery and treatment for later diagnoses of malrotated intestines, chronic lung disease, and other health issues.

“She’s now had 12 surgeries. It never gets easier – my husband, John, just got out of the active duty Air Force…two years ago, he was actually deployed during some of Sarah’s surgeries, and medical stuff, and that was probably the hardest waiting room [wait] I ever had to do – without my husband,” said Kilareski, continuing, “…probably the hardest thing as a parent, as a mom, [is] to watch Sarah suffer. There’s been times in her life when she’s been in an incredible amount of pain, and there were times where doctors couldn’t figure it out, and you just feel so powerless as a parent,”

In spite of all of these challenges, Sarah continues to persevere and take part in helping her community. According to Kilareski, Sarah does the annual Baltimore Running Festival with her family, as well as fundraising for Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

“What’s really inspirational about Sarah is that she doesn’t let her health slow her down from what she wants to do,” said Kilareski.

People that are interested in donating to the Children’s Center can do so online.