2018 Heart of Gold recipient Lauren (LoLo) Loredo

Heart of Gold T-shirts have been sold and delivered through all the SISD schools. But if someone would still like to purchase a Heart of Gold T-Shirt they will be sold at Barefoot Athletics across from TSU Wednesday afternoon through Friday (while supplies last).
All proceeds are being donated to LoLo and her family.
The 2018 Heart of Gold recipient Lauren Elise Loredo (LoLo), is the 3-year-old daughter of David and Deidre (Doggett) Loredo. She was diagnosed with Alexander Disease at the age of l0 months.
Alexander Disease is an extremely rare genetic disorder with only approximately 500 cases being reported worldwide since it was discovered in 1949. The disease is not fully understood, but there seem to be several variants that progress at different rates. It damages and deteriorates the myelin sheath, which surrounds and protects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord causing them to stop working correctly.

There is no known cure for Alexander Disease. It is a progressive disease, and the prognosis is very poor. The average lifespan for infantile AxD is 6 years.
LoLo is regularly monitored by her neurologist, Dr. Amy Waldman at CHOP, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who loves LoLo and is thrilled she is thriving and doing so well. She says Lauren is writing her own story.
Dr. Waldman along with Dr. Albee Messing of the Weisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison collaborate in researching potential treatment for Alexander Disease. Clinical trials are still some time away, but research shows that a cure for Alexander Disease may also be beneficial to treat ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and many other conditions.

Lauren is a student at Kinderbridge where she loves her teachers and friends. She has just begun Ballet and Tap at the Stephenville Dance Center. LoLo is in the TSU TREAT Horse Program and is a natural at horseback riding. This cowgirl’s favorite horse is named Peppy.
She has weekly Physical Therapy sessions as well. The primary goal is to keep her as healthy and strong as she can be for when that call we pray for comes, saying “There is a Treatment.”
LoLo is the granddaughter of Dr. Kelly and Tawnya Doggett of Stephenville and Armondo Loredo of Ft Worth who adore her along with her Uncle Dustin and Aunt Juli Doggett. Her favorite person in the whole world is her cousin Colbi who is a 1st grader at Chamberlin.

She loves teaching LoLo new things and playing together every day. They love to sing and dance. Colbi gave her the name Rainbow the day she was born.