Girl, 4, couldn't walk or speak after getting rhabdomyolysis

Key Points:

• Ali Modica, a 7-year-old from New Jersey, developed severe rhabdomyolysis after a common cold led to heart and kidney failure, resulting in a brain injury that left her unable to walk or speak and requiring full-time care.
• Ali's condition escalated rapidly from mild cold symptoms to full-blown heart failure, requiring emergency ECMO treatment and dialysis, with her heart recovering after five days but leaving lasting neurological damage.
• Her father, Joe Modica, is raising awareness about rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscle breakdown disorder that can be triggered by viral infections or overexertion, especially after the recent death of a marathon runner from the same condition.
• Despite ongoing intensive physical and occupational therapy, Ali continues to make gradual progress, and the family is funding treatments out of pocket, including stem cell therapy, with a GoFundMe campaign aiming to raise $125,000 for her care.
• Joe emphasizes the importance of recognizing early signs of rhabdomyolysis, such as inability to walk or leg pain following viral infections, and urges better awareness among athletes, families, and medical professionals to prevent similar tragedies.