Advisory Board to the KLS Foundation

Donna White, Mother of Ryan McKinney.

Ryan was misdiagnosed for a period of over seven years and as a result suffered a heart attack and died on February 17, 2006 due to altered medications. Ryan’s death sparked a mission to raise the level of KLS awareness in hopes that other children will not continue to suffer from this devastating disorder. In 2007, the first annual “Walking for Ryan Festival” was held in South Carolina and raised nearly 10,000 for KLS research. I am an English as a second language instructor/Bilingual Spanish Translator for the Lancaster County School District and founder of the South Carolina Chapter of Kleine Levin Syndrome at Lancaster, SC.

Gaylene Fisch, RN, BSN, CNOR

Gaylene is a Registered Nurse and Mother of Brian Sabul who is 15 and had his first episode in April of 2007.  It is because of the foundation’s presence that Brian was diagnosed within weeks of his illness, which is a testament to the need for the awareness and outreach that the KLS Foundation promotes.  Gaylene will be partnering with Board of Directors member Lori Haller to present KLS information to Pediatric. Neurology, Behavioral and other physician groups.

Christine Penney

Christine is the mother of Joseph Penney who had his first episode in December 2005, when he was 16 years old.  He was diagnosed with KLS in May of 2006.  At that time she made contact with the KLS Foundation, which became the family’s support system.  Christine has been an active member for a variety of school and local organizations.  She is an advocate for raising awareness of KLS in her community and is very active in fundraising for the KLS Foundation.