A local church is hoping to reach out and help a family of a girl who struggles from an undiagnosed illness.

Southside Baptist Church is hosting a Cake Auction on for Katherine Stephens.

The one-year-old has been struggling with seizures since December of 2017.

Because the Stephens attend Southside Baptist Church, the church community knows how hard it impacts the family.

“She’s had health problems since around December of 2017,” Jessie Stephens, her mother said.

“We’ve been in and out of the hospital and we’ve ridden an ambulance four or five times,” she said.
Recently, the family commutes back and forth from Birmingham to see a neurologist that has been helping Katherine.

“We’ve been getting great treatment but we still don’t know what illness she has,” Stephens said.

It’s hard because the family doesn’t know what’s bothering Katherine, Stephens said.

“We’ve been told that we may never get a diagnosis. There’s a 40 percent chance of receiving one.”

When the church came to Stephens about the fundraiser, she said she was hesitant.
“I knew they just wanted to help our family so I accepted,” she said.
“But I was hesitant to accept help even though it would benefit us.”

Stephens says because of Katherine’s unknown illness, it’s difficult to reach out to others and receive help.

“I am so very thankful and grateful towards Southside and all they’re doing to help,” Stephens said.

“Medical bills start to add up,” she said.

Stephens is married to Bradley Stephens, a basketball coach at Straughn.

The couple have Clara, 4, and Katherine.

Stephens is the project coordinator for the Children’s Policy Council.

The Cake Auction will be held on Sunday, July 15 at the Southside Baptist Church Family Life Center starting at 1 p.m.
Donations may be deposited in an account at South Independent Bank. Checks can be made payable to Bradley or Jessie Stephens.