In her prior role as an EMT and current one as a dispatcher, Kaitlyn Lechner has helped many Powell area residents navigate some tough medical situations. Her friends and colleagues are now hoping the community can assist Lechner, as one of her sons is facing a serious medical condition and long stay at a Denver hospital.

Lechner’s coworkers at the Powell Police Department have launched a GoFundMe and are hosting a Saturday barbecue to help with her expenses.

Lechner has devoted a large part of her life to helping others, said Powell Police Sgt. Dustin DelBiaggio, and “[I’m] just hoping we can give back to her in the way she’s given to us and everybody else here.”

Lechner’s 8-year-old son recently fell ill while with his dad, and doctors found the child’s white blood cells had dropped to critically low levels. He was life-flighted from Laramie to Children’s Hospital Colorado while Lechner began driving down from Powell.

“It’s every parent’s nightmare: your child in crisis, miles away, with no time to plan and no room for delay,” her police colleagues Anthony Firkins and Matt Koritnik wrote on GoFundMe.

Lechner’s son received two units of blood soon after arriving at the Denver hospital and he’s since been diagnosed with a “serious medical condition.”

“[T]his is just the beginning of a long treatment journey,” Firkins wrote on Friday. “There are a lot of moving parts ahead, and every day brings new decisions, challenges, and unknowns.”

Alongside her son, Lechner is now facing an open-ended stay in Denver and the many expenses that will come with it. After working as an EMT at Powell Valley Healthcare, Lechner became a police dispatcher in October — and as a new City of Powell employee, she has limited paid time off.

“It’s going to be a financial burden on her,” DelBiaggio said, “and we’re just trying to ease that in the time that she has to be away from work.”

Donations will help cover travel, food and hotel costs and other immediate needs.

As of Monday, over $9,000 had been raised via GoFundMe.

For those looking to contribute another way, a community barbecue fundraiser is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Powell Fire Hall (1101 E. South St.).

Burgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks will be offered for a donation, alongside a raffle and a silent auction.

Beyond Lechner’s colleagues at the police department, DelBiaggio said Powell Volunteer Fire Department members and Powell Valley Healthcare EMS personnel have offered to help. In addition to the fire department’s playground, corn hole and other activities, he’s hoping to have police cars, fire trucks and ambulances on hand for children to check out.

“Hopefully we can get everybody together and just be able to have a good family time,” DelBiaggio said.

To make a donation to Saturday’s fundraiser, or for more information, contact DelBiaggio at 307-254-7056. To contribute to the GoFundMe campaign, visit gofund.me/25eb5b6e.

Lechner and her colleagues said they’re grateful for the support that’s already poured in.