Close your eyes and imagine an American girl. Once you have met Gwen, her sweet face will immediately come to your mind when you do this. She just happens to love American Girl dolls too.

In so many ways, Gwen appears to be a typical 9-year-old girl. She loves singing, dancing, being in the Brownies and swimming on the Special Olympics team. It seems like she can do anything. But there is one really big thing she can’t do.

Gwen can’t eat. She is fed by a G-tube with a formula calculated and monitored by Nationwide Children’s Genetics Team and has a nurse who cares for her during the day.

When she was only two days old, Gwen became catastrophically ill and was placed on life support at Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s NICU. The next day she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Propionic Acidemia (PA).

Gwen cannot break down parts of protein and some types of fats due to a non-functioning enzyme called PCC. This inability causes a build-up of toxins and acids, which can cause damage to her organs and be life threatening. During times of intense metabolic crisis, Gwen requires hospitalization and careful monitoring.

“I know for certain Gwen wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the brilliant and caring staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The staff of the NICU, Genetics, In-patient unit, Emergency Department, Transportation, Radiology, Cardiology, Audiology, among many others, have always treated Gwen like a princess and would do whatever it took to make the best outcome for my precious daughter. I will be forever grateful to every person there who has helped to save her life and maintain her health,” says Gwen’s mom, Jennifer.

Jennifer adds, “Gwen is a very brave girl with an endless capacity to forgive, an amazing will to live, and a beautiful spirit from God that has touched the lives of hundreds.”

http://nchflutter.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Flutter_PatientChampions_Gwendolyn.jpg

• Name: Gwendolyn M.Gwendolyn Mouat
• Condition(s): Metabolic Disorder
• Age at Treatment: 9 years
• Age Today: 02/03/200618 Years

Close your eyes and imagine an American girl. Once you have met Gwen, her sweet face will immediately come to your mind when you do this. She just happens to love American Girl dolls too.

In so many ways, Gwen appears to be a typical 9-year-old girl. She loves singing, dancing, being in the Brownies and swimming on the Special Olympics team. It seems like she can do anything. But there is one really big thing she can’t do.

Gwen can’t eat. She is fed by a G-tube with a formula calculated and monitored by Nationwide Children’s Genetics Team and has a nurse who cares for her during the day.

When she was only two days old, Gwen became catastrophically ill and was placed on life support at Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s NICU. The next day she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Propionic Acidemia (PA).

Gwen cannot break down parts of protein and some types of fats due to a non-functioning enzyme called PCC. This inability causes a build-up of toxins and acids, which can cause damage to her organs and be life threatening. During times of intense metabolic crisis, Gwen requires hospitalization and careful monitoring.

“I know for certain Gwen wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the brilliant and caring staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The staff of the NICU, Genetics, In-patient unit, Emergency Department, Transportation, Radiology, Cardiology, Audiology, among many others, have always treated Gwen like a princess and would do whatever it took to make the best outcome for my precious daughter. I will be forever grateful to every person there who has helped to save her life and maintain her health,” says Gwen’s mom, Jennifer.

Jennifer adds, “Gwen is a very brave girl with an endless capacity to forgive, an amazing will to live, and a beautiful spirit from God that has touched the lives of hundreds.”