PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Mackenzie Nelson has wanted the same thing for Christmas for the past few year, the ability to eat.
The 3-year-old has a mysterious condition that prevents her from eating. Her body reacts to food as if it were poison.
Her nutrition comes from a feeding tube.
"I was beginning to lose all hope, because we've been to numerous doctors down here," Ashley Nelson, Mackenzie's mom, said.
Earlier this year Local 10 News aired Mackenzie's story, and since then Nelson has received input from doctors near and far.
"I was surprised at how many people were willing to help when they don't even know us," Nelson said.
Two undiagnosed disease programs have reached out to Nelson, each believing they can help -- the only problem is that all the possible resources are out of state.
"The insurance says they're out of network and we have no out of network coverage," Nelson said.
Nelson needs $50,000 for her child to be seen by the specialists.
"We started a GoFundMe page to help get a little extra money to help get Mackenzie the help she so desperately needs that we can't find here," Nelson said.
The hope is that by this time next year Mackenzie will be able to get her wish of eating food.
If you’d like to help Mackenzie click here.