Country singer RaeLynn donates $10,000 to Texas Children's Hospital

HOUSTON – Baytown native Raelynn, who got her big break in 2012 when she appeared in the second season of "The Voice," repaid her community Friday with a $10,000 check from her foundation to Texas Children's Hospital.

“I believe when you're receiving so much love, you should always give it back,” Raelynn said.

When RaeLynn was 12 years old, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the hospital.

“When I found out I that I had type 1 diabete, I was like, 'Allright, we're going to figure it out, I’m going to make it work,'” RaeLynn said.

Yamelis Hennigan and her husband Trey are parents to 3-year-old Gillian, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in June.

“It's incredible that she came back to where she was diagnosed to give back to this hospital because this hospital means so much to us,” Hennigan said. “You really don't know what it means until you're living it. You really have no idea, it is a 24 hour fight for her life.”

Though the road ahead is not an easy one, Gillian has RaeLynn as a role model

“Her dexcom on her arm (tells us ) every five minutes her blood-sugar levels .... depending on that, we either have to give insulin if she's about to eat or give her food if her blood sugar is dangerously low,” Hennigan said. “She's a trooper .... I don't think she's going to let anything slow her down.”