HARRELLS — Although 3-year-old Katie Whitman is still fighting for her life at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, people from around the world have her on their prayer lists, says family friend Nikki Eason. 

“Earlier this week, she had a pastor and solider from Ft. Bragg drive up to visit her, just to let her know that people from all over the world have been touched by her story and are praying for her — it was really uplifting,” Eason said Friday morning.

The family’s home church, St. Pauls Freewill Baptist Church near Newton Grove, is working to raise funds for the sick child. 

Katie was diagnosed with a very rare form of hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and has been in critical condition at the hospital since Oct. 4, just a few days after she developed what her family called regular flu-like symptoms.

HUS is characterized by the triad of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. The only distinguishing feature is that in TTP, fever and neurological symptoms are often present; but it is not always the case. The two conditions are sometimes treated as a single entity called “TTP/HUS”.

“People have asked us how they can help,” said Eason, adding that the discussion came up at church on Wednesday night and from that came the idea for a special fund, which is now set up at First Citizens Bank

“If you go into any First Citizens Bank, there is a fund set up for her listed under St. Paul FWB Church called the Katie Whitman Fund,” Eason explained. “You can also mail checks to the bank and also to our church, you just have to make sure you put Katie Whitman Fund in the memo part of the check.”

Eason also said that members of the church will soon begin selling T-shirts and Praying for Katie signs for residents’ yards.

All donations, as well as proceeds from the sale of the item,s will go to help the family with medical expenses.

As for her health, Eason said that Katie is still going through “plasma procedures.”

“So far, from what we know, the procedures are successful,” she said. “No news is good news.”

For more information on how to purchase shirts or signs, call Eason at 910-385-5086 during regular business hours. To send a donation, send checks to First Citizens Bank, c/o St. Pauls FWB Church/Katie Whitman Fund, P.O. Box 116, Newton Grove; or to St. Pauls Freewill Baptist Church c/o ‘Katie Whitman Fund’, P.O. Box 64, Newton Grove; or stop by any First Citizens Bank branch.