Community rallies in support of 9-year-old Aubree Killmer

PINE PLAINS — No matter if a resident of Pine Plains or a visitor with ties to the town, many can attest to the community’s unfailing dedication to support those in need. This was especially the case last Thursday, April 4, when the Pine Plains Central School District pitched in to show its support for 9-year-old Aubree Killmer, who has been living with a rare case of genetic muscular deficiency since last fall.

At age 9, Aubree’s life changed when she began experiencing difficulties with her breathing last September. After visiting her doctors a couple times, she was placed on antibiotics when her doctors believed she had pneumonia. On Sept. 30, she was taken to Sharon Hospital in neighboring Connecticut before she was transferred to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where she was admitted on Oct. 1. Following various appointments with doctors and cardiologists, Aubree was diagnosed a rare and incurable case of genetic muscular deficiency.

During her stay at Westchester Medical Center, Aubree received a tracheotomy and is now connected to a ventilator to aid her breathing. She was at Westchester Medical Center for almost two months before moving to Blythedale Children’s Hospital for a month. Prior to her return home, Aubree’s mother, father and grandmother were all trained to operate the ventilator as well as the suction machine to help get the secretions out from her lungs through the tracheotomy. They were also trained to perform CPR and to take care of Aubree’s tracheotomy.

Now that she’s back home in Millerton with her mother, Taylor Collier, and her siblings, a typical day for Aubree involves 24/7 care and assistance. Using a walker and leg braces to improve her walking, Aubree receives physical therapy at home and has a tutor visit her to keep her mind sharp. During the time of her diagnosis, Aubree was a fourth-grader at Webutuck Elementary School. Depending on how she feels, her grandmother, Amy McCaul, said that Aubree will try to go back to school on Monday, April 8, to see if she can handle it.

“She’s a strong girl,” McCaul said. “She’s kept us going and she’s still smiling through it all.”

Throughout her ordeal, the Pine Plains community has extended its love and support to Aubree and her family. During her hospitalization, students from the Stissing Mountain High School Class of 2019 created a basket for her with gifts and cards. Following her return home, members of the Stissing Mountain Guidance Department reached out to her family to ask if it would be alright to host a fundraiser for her.

“It’s great to know that you’ve got a community that actually cares” McCaul said. “It doesn’t take away the pain or the hurt, but it’s awesome to know that there are people that actually want to help.”

The Pine Plains Central School District organized a Rib Rally Fundraiser for Aubree Killmer through the restaurant Texas Roadhouse on Thursday, April 4, coinciding with the Pine Plains varsity baseball game against Webutuck. In promoting the fundraiser, representatives from Texas Roadhouse came to the game with fresh biscuits and sold tickets for a dinner at Texas Roadhouse in Kingston, at $10 each. Out of the $10, McCaul reported that $3 will go toward Aubree.

Setting up camp behind the fence facing home plate, Aubree was surrounded by several family members as she watched the Pine Plains Bombers face off against the Webutuck Warriors. A warrior at school and at heart, Aubree showed her true colors as a Pine Plains fan as she wore the Pine Plains Bombers sweatshirt given to her by her uncle, Stissing Mountain High School junior Caleb McCaul, and a navy blue Bombers cap. As a souvenir from the game, the entire Pine Plains varsity baseball team signed a baseball for her to take home. Long before the game’s start, Stissing Mountain High School student Evan Proper took a photo of the Pine Plains baseball field and posted it to Snapchat with a heartfelt caption in tribute to Aubree.

With the game underway and Texas Roadhouse representatives promoting the Rib Rally fundraiser, Aubree’s family made sure she was comfortable as she watched the game, marveling at her spirit.

“As of right now, she’s the strongest person I know,” said her grandfather, Kenneth Killmer. “I know I myself would not be able to endure what she has and still smile.”

When thinking what the future has in store for his first grandchild, Killmer shared his goal to help get Aubree into a house where she can move around freely with her ventilator.

Inspired by his niece’s courageousness, Stissing Mountain sophomore Jarrett McCaul ascribed his determination to work harder to Aubree.

“It has been a rough ride,” he said, “but she’s the reason why I’m doing stuff in school more… Before everything happened, I wasn’t doing well in school … when I saw her courageousness, I thought I should try to do better for her.”

Standing by as Aubree’s nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse Jennifer Wayne said she admired Aubree’s resiliency as well as her ability to adapt to the moment. As she began working with Aubree last fall, she soon formed a bond with her and her family, which she believes is an essential element in her field.

“I can’t do this job without some kind of a bond,” Wayne said.

Watching her daughter move forward with her new set of circumstances, Taylor Collier was glad to report that after adapting to her condition, Aubree is now able to do a few things on her own.

“It was definitely hard at first,” Collier said, “but I’m really proud of who she is and how strong she is. I can’t tell you how amazing it was to see her go all the way from the bottom to the top.”