Brandy's Surgery
Donation protected
Hi there,
My name is Brandy and unfortunately on January 6th I have to have a very intensive and scary surgery. I was born with a deformity in my chest called Pectus Excavatum. Pretty much as I was growing up the connective tissue between my chest plate and my ribs excessively grew to a point where now I have an inward deformity in my sternum.
My whole life I have suffered with shortness of breath and chest pains but recently it has become more and more severe. So a few months ago I decided to go to a doctor and see if there is anything we can do about it. My doctor informed me that I need to have this surgery ASAP before it causes real damage to my heart and lungs do to the compression from my chest.
The surgery is very intense. They will have to cut open my chest then break my sternum and remove all of the extra cartilage on both the left and right side of my ribs. The sternum will be left floating and they will create a mesh "chest" for me. Basically the mesh will be there to hold my sternum in place so that when the cartilage grows back it grows in properly.
After hearing how intensive the surgery is I instantly began searching for a health care provider. It was a pretty tough search since a lot of them consider this a "cosmetic surgery." Although in my case it is not, but in the end I found one and signed up. This is unfortunately not the end. We have estimated the surgery is going to cost around $100,000 in total. And my health care provider only covers 80% of this cost. Right now I am working as hard as I can to save up money and my family is helping in any way possible but it's still not going to even put a dent in the looming $20,000.
Unfortunately after the surgery I won't be very functional. Since my chest will be made of mesh I will not have any protection from outside harm. Most things that would although be painful could be life threatening to me. I will be on bed rest for two weeks, not be able to work for around two months, and not aloud in a car unless it is absolutely necessary. Even if need be I have to sit in the back seat with a low seat belt as an air bag going off could hit my chest which could then cause a rib or my sternum to puncture my heart or lungs. The surgery takes about 6 months for my to be completely functional and up to a year to be fully healed.
This is why I am here to ask for help from you. Any type of donation would help in my journey to live a fulfilling and healthy life. Even your thoughts are worth the world to me.
Thanks to some incredible men and women who I am very grateful for I am able to offer some real thank you's. A multitude of models have sent me signed prints and some artists have donated prints of their artwork and even some original pieces to give to people who donate.
Anyone who donates over $50 will receive a signed print from either Kelly Eden, Stephanie Shaw (zilla308), Miss Rockwell, Ophelia Overdose, or Miss Mary Leigh. (This is until I run out of prints.)
Anyone who donates over $100 will receive a print or original piece of artwork from the talented artists Dan McWilliams, Tyler Eilbeck, or Casey Jenson. (This is also until I run out.)
I want to say thank you for stopping by and reading my story. Even if your not donating thank you for any thoughts and prayers that are sent my way. I am truly blessed in life to have so many people who support me like they do. I can't wait to be back to my goofy and happy self.
Brandy McWilliams
If you donate over $50 or $100 and would like one of the gifts please message me through here so I can get it sent out to you!
My name is Brandy and unfortunately on January 6th I have to have a very intensive and scary surgery. I was born with a deformity in my chest called Pectus Excavatum. Pretty much as I was growing up the connective tissue between my chest plate and my ribs excessively grew to a point where now I have an inward deformity in my sternum.
My whole life I have suffered with shortness of breath and chest pains but recently it has become more and more severe. So a few months ago I decided to go to a doctor and see if there is anything we can do about it. My doctor informed me that I need to have this surgery ASAP before it causes real damage to my heart and lungs do to the compression from my chest.
The surgery is very intense. They will have to cut open my chest then break my sternum and remove all of the extra cartilage on both the left and right side of my ribs. The sternum will be left floating and they will create a mesh "chest" for me. Basically the mesh will be there to hold my sternum in place so that when the cartilage grows back it grows in properly.
After hearing how intensive the surgery is I instantly began searching for a health care provider. It was a pretty tough search since a lot of them consider this a "cosmetic surgery." Although in my case it is not, but in the end I found one and signed up. This is unfortunately not the end. We have estimated the surgery is going to cost around $100,000 in total. And my health care provider only covers 80% of this cost. Right now I am working as hard as I can to save up money and my family is helping in any way possible but it's still not going to even put a dent in the looming $20,000.
Unfortunately after the surgery I won't be very functional. Since my chest will be made of mesh I will not have any protection from outside harm. Most things that would although be painful could be life threatening to me. I will be on bed rest for two weeks, not be able to work for around two months, and not aloud in a car unless it is absolutely necessary. Even if need be I have to sit in the back seat with a low seat belt as an air bag going off could hit my chest which could then cause a rib or my sternum to puncture my heart or lungs. The surgery takes about 6 months for my to be completely functional and up to a year to be fully healed.
This is why I am here to ask for help from you. Any type of donation would help in my journey to live a fulfilling and healthy life. Even your thoughts are worth the world to me.
Thanks to some incredible men and women who I am very grateful for I am able to offer some real thank you's. A multitude of models have sent me signed prints and some artists have donated prints of their artwork and even some original pieces to give to people who donate.
Anyone who donates over $50 will receive a signed print from either Kelly Eden, Stephanie Shaw (zilla308), Miss Rockwell, Ophelia Overdose, or Miss Mary Leigh. (This is until I run out of prints.)
Anyone who donates over $100 will receive a print or original piece of artwork from the talented artists Dan McWilliams, Tyler Eilbeck, or Casey Jenson. (This is also until I run out.)
I want to say thank you for stopping by and reading my story. Even if your not donating thank you for any thoughts and prayers that are sent my way. I am truly blessed in life to have so many people who support me like they do. I can't wait to be back to my goofy and happy self.
Brandy McWilliams
If you donate over $50 or $100 and would like one of the gifts please message me through here so I can get it sent out to you!
Organizer
Courtney Dawne
Organizer
Fort Collins, CO
