BETHALTO, Ill. — The tight-knit community of Bethalto stood in solidarity with a brave young girl, Lucie Hale, who is battling a challenging seizure condition on Saturday.
Lucie's journey has not been easy, but her community's support has become a shining beacon of hope for her and her family.
Lucie's father, Scott Hale, proudly referred to his daughter as a superhero and a miracle. The sweet face of 7-year-old Lucie has captured the hearts of everyone in Bethalto, where people are coming together to lend a helping hand on her path to recovery.
Lucie's journey took a difficult turn in 2022 when she was diagnosed with epilepsy and began experiencing seizures. In May of 2023, the young girl faced a medically induced coma and underwent brain surgery due to a condition called Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus. This condition made Lucie's seizures extremely challenging to control, prompting doctors to take urgent measures to break the cycle.
"She was diagnosed with Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus. Which is kind of hard for me to explain, but it's something that —her seizures were really uncontrollable at that time, and it's something that we tried the doctors trying to stop that cycle," her father said.
With no identified root cause yet, the Hales are aware of the long road ahead. Lucie's recovery will require substantial efforts, both physically and cognitively. The family, however, is not facing this journey alone.
Scott Hale expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support they have received.
"It's really kind of hard to put into words how much people have done for us. People that we know, people that we love, people that we never met before," Hale said. "They've bent over backward for us and allowed us to put our daughter first... which has meant a lot."
The law enforcement community, particularly Scott's brothers and sisters in blue, has played a significant role in supporting the Hales during this challenging time.
Jason Lamb, Chief of Police at Bethalto Police Department, emphasized the initial and continued support from the law enforcement community.
"We gave Scott and his family all the time to try to figure this out, and as time went on, the majority of support came from our law enforcement brothers and sisters," the police chief said.
On Saturday, the Moose Lodge in Wood River became a hub of support, adorned with princess tiaras and the hashtag #ilovelucie, for a trivia night to raise funds and awareness. Local officials, citizens, and businesses have all joined forces, making donations to help the family navigate the financial burden of Lucie's medical care.
An organizer said the family had received more than $28,000 so far before Saturday's sold-out event, not including ticket sales or money from the auction.
Lucie is at home after spending months at St. Louis Children's Hospital.