Gails Multiple Sclerosis Medication
Donation protected
I am calling upon family, friends, loved ones, and anyone willing to help a great cause:
Gail is A DO-ER. A GIVER. A FIGHTER. A SUPPORTER. A MOTHER. A FRIEND. A CARETAKER. A PROVIDER. A ROLE MODEL. This is her story.
Gail is my mother. Hi, my names is Jesse and I am 24 years old living in Texas. My mom was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) in 1997 at the age of 39. Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. First I'd like to give you some background information on MS. "Early MS symptoms include weakness, tingling, numbness, and blurred vision. Other signs are muscle stiffness, thinking problems, and urinary problems. Treatment can relieve MS symptoms and delay disease progression." [WebMD]
but...
There is no known cure for MS.
... yet.
"A relapse is followed by recovery or remission of symptoms. A remission can last weeks, months, or even longer. When you are in remission, you may have few or no symptoms. The disease is stable during this time - meaning it doesn't progress. When you go into remission you may or may not return to your previous condition level." [WebMD]
Several mornings in a row in July of 97' my mom woke up with excruciating charlie horses in one leg. The next two weeks she walked with a limp. Her boss at the time called her into her office and said, "If you don't go to the doctor today, I will drive you to the hospital myself." The next day she was sent to the hospital by her primary doctor who said the limp she was experiencing was worse than she thought. The ER initially diagnosed her with having a stroke and called in a neurologist who didn't agree with that diagnosis. After serveral MRIs and other testing she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis by a radiologist. She went for a second opinion from a neurologist who specialized in MS who agreed she had the disease. He became her perminant doctor.
She and my father divorced in 1999. For years my mother raised me as a single parent, working 7 days a week for the overtime to help make ends meet and save as much money as she could to send me to college.
My mom's case affects her right side and she has often refered to her right leg as a "dead leg". From 1997 to 2007 my mom had little symptoms other than walking with a limp. By 2008 she was regularly dependant on a cane for mobility.
I graduated High School in 2009 and Mom's years of never giving up paid most of my way through college. She is the type of parent who would rather watch me succeed than worry about her own problems. I lived in Florida for 2 years and it killed me to leave her by herself but she had a few close friends that gave her a strong support system. A support system that I will forever be grateful for!
"After 10 to 20 years, the course of RRMS shifts to a progressive type. Relapses decrease but the disease worsens. This is called secondary progressive multiple sclerosis." [WebMD] My mother's condition worsened to Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.
By 2010 her symptoms progressed and new symptoms arose causing her to need more assistance than a cane could provide and began regualarly depending on a walker for movement. By March of 2012 my mom was sent on Short Term Disability and by September of that same year she began receiving Social Security Disability and was legally disabled. I moved back home to Texas to be with her, take care of her, and work full time. Her doctor told her, "Most people in her situation would have been disabled 4 years before, that her determination, willpower and strength kept her fighting." That's my mom. She is a fighter. From 1997 to 2013 my mom had to give herself Avonex shot injections once a week, often times needing mine or a friend's assistance. At this time her company's insurance was covering most of her medical costs; The Avonex shots alone were roughly $14,000 - $15,000 a year... for 16 years. To this day we both agree that Avonex was a Godsend in delaying progression and worsening of her symptoms. From this point in time until July of 2013 my mom was relying on both a walker and a manual wheelchair depending on how her symptoms were each day. When new oral treatment drugs were released she was put on Tecfidera and taken off of the weekely injections. After July 2013 her upper body strength began to weaken and she currently relies on an electric wheelchair to get around the house. In September of 2014 my mom was switched to Medicare. Her prescriptions reached the Medicare limit after only one month due to the amount of prescriptions and costs. She is being told that she needs to cover the majority of the future payments by herself until Medicare renues the initial payment in Janurary (which will most likely, similarly, only cover Janurary's medications). When that payment is reached Mom will need to cover the rest of 2015 medical bills out of pocket until she hits a certain dollar amount, which is in the several thousands. Once she pays up to that dollar amount, Medicare will kick back in paying 95% until year end. Mom will only need to pay 5% of her total medical costs. The issue here is covering the multiple thousands for awhile until Medicare starts paying 95% mid 2015.
Money we don't have.
Medications she needs.
My mom is the STRONGEST and HARDEST WORKING woman I have ever met. She has overcome so many obsticles and daily obsticles that most of us take for granted. To this day, despite her disability, she TRIUMPHS AT RUNNING A HOUSEHOLD. I would like to be able to support her the way she has supported me my entire life. I am working two jobs to help contribute but the numbers just aren't adding up. As her only child I feel that I am not contributing enough financially, but there is only so much time in the day. This is why I come to you family, friends, and lovely people of the internet. I am asking for help funding Mom's current and future medical bills. A time will come in the near future when she will need more regular assistance than I can provide requiring an in-home nurse/caretaker. I am trying to prepare for her future the best way I can. I don't want her stressing and worrying about trivial matters such as, "Will I be able to afford medication for next month? and the month after that?" She needs to live stressfree and positive!
I was given this advice once, "Never be too scared to ask for help." - A very hard thing to do, so here I am, asking for any help you can give in donating or sharing Gail's story.
If donating is something you're able to do, we would be forever grateful. I have always kept the faith that every $1 leads to a million dollars. If you are unable to donate, your thoughts and prayers for our family is just as appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read this and hear her story. I ask that you join our journey by sharing Gail's story with your family, friends, and loved ones on Facebook and social media to raise awareness for my mother and Multiple Sclerosis.
Commenting on the video attached to this page, Laurie Anne King once said, "I interpreted her stillness and her contentment (with her beloved animals) as an indication of her total acceptance of her limited physicality but in no way does it limit her ability to be fully present and peaceful with the on-goings of the household. Women find it very difficult to just sit down, be still and quiet and watch as others prepare food and clean up. For me, she demonstrated a type of liberation from a self imposed obligation and expectation women cast upon themselves. To me, her wheelchair is irrelevant. What is relevant is her mere beautiful presence. She exudes nurturing without doing but simply being." and I couldn't have said it any better.
My mother exudes nurturing without doing but simply being.
Thank you so much for you time and support. God Bless!
-Jesse
Gail is A DO-ER. A GIVER. A FIGHTER. A SUPPORTER. A MOTHER. A FRIEND. A CARETAKER. A PROVIDER. A ROLE MODEL. This is her story.
Gail is my mother. Hi, my names is Jesse and I am 24 years old living in Texas. My mom was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) in 1997 at the age of 39. Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. First I'd like to give you some background information on MS. "Early MS symptoms include weakness, tingling, numbness, and blurred vision. Other signs are muscle stiffness, thinking problems, and urinary problems. Treatment can relieve MS symptoms and delay disease progression." [WebMD]
but...
There is no known cure for MS.
... yet.
"A relapse is followed by recovery or remission of symptoms. A remission can last weeks, months, or even longer. When you are in remission, you may have few or no symptoms. The disease is stable during this time - meaning it doesn't progress. When you go into remission you may or may not return to your previous condition level." [WebMD]
Several mornings in a row in July of 97' my mom woke up with excruciating charlie horses in one leg. The next two weeks she walked with a limp. Her boss at the time called her into her office and said, "If you don't go to the doctor today, I will drive you to the hospital myself." The next day she was sent to the hospital by her primary doctor who said the limp she was experiencing was worse than she thought. The ER initially diagnosed her with having a stroke and called in a neurologist who didn't agree with that diagnosis. After serveral MRIs and other testing she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis by a radiologist. She went for a second opinion from a neurologist who specialized in MS who agreed she had the disease. He became her perminant doctor.
She and my father divorced in 1999. For years my mother raised me as a single parent, working 7 days a week for the overtime to help make ends meet and save as much money as she could to send me to college.
My mom's case affects her right side and she has often refered to her right leg as a "dead leg". From 1997 to 2007 my mom had little symptoms other than walking with a limp. By 2008 she was regularly dependant on a cane for mobility.
I graduated High School in 2009 and Mom's years of never giving up paid most of my way through college. She is the type of parent who would rather watch me succeed than worry about her own problems. I lived in Florida for 2 years and it killed me to leave her by herself but she had a few close friends that gave her a strong support system. A support system that I will forever be grateful for!
"After 10 to 20 years, the course of RRMS shifts to a progressive type. Relapses decrease but the disease worsens. This is called secondary progressive multiple sclerosis." [WebMD] My mother's condition worsened to Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.
By 2010 her symptoms progressed and new symptoms arose causing her to need more assistance than a cane could provide and began regualarly depending on a walker for movement. By March of 2012 my mom was sent on Short Term Disability and by September of that same year she began receiving Social Security Disability and was legally disabled. I moved back home to Texas to be with her, take care of her, and work full time. Her doctor told her, "Most people in her situation would have been disabled 4 years before, that her determination, willpower and strength kept her fighting." That's my mom. She is a fighter. From 1997 to 2013 my mom had to give herself Avonex shot injections once a week, often times needing mine or a friend's assistance. At this time her company's insurance was covering most of her medical costs; The Avonex shots alone were roughly $14,000 - $15,000 a year... for 16 years. To this day we both agree that Avonex was a Godsend in delaying progression and worsening of her symptoms. From this point in time until July of 2013 my mom was relying on both a walker and a manual wheelchair depending on how her symptoms were each day. When new oral treatment drugs were released she was put on Tecfidera and taken off of the weekely injections. After July 2013 her upper body strength began to weaken and she currently relies on an electric wheelchair to get around the house. In September of 2014 my mom was switched to Medicare. Her prescriptions reached the Medicare limit after only one month due to the amount of prescriptions and costs. She is being told that she needs to cover the majority of the future payments by herself until Medicare renues the initial payment in Janurary (which will most likely, similarly, only cover Janurary's medications). When that payment is reached Mom will need to cover the rest of 2015 medical bills out of pocket until she hits a certain dollar amount, which is in the several thousands. Once she pays up to that dollar amount, Medicare will kick back in paying 95% until year end. Mom will only need to pay 5% of her total medical costs. The issue here is covering the multiple thousands for awhile until Medicare starts paying 95% mid 2015.
Money we don't have.
Medications she needs.
My mom is the STRONGEST and HARDEST WORKING woman I have ever met. She has overcome so many obsticles and daily obsticles that most of us take for granted. To this day, despite her disability, she TRIUMPHS AT RUNNING A HOUSEHOLD. I would like to be able to support her the way she has supported me my entire life. I am working two jobs to help contribute but the numbers just aren't adding up. As her only child I feel that I am not contributing enough financially, but there is only so much time in the day. This is why I come to you family, friends, and lovely people of the internet. I am asking for help funding Mom's current and future medical bills. A time will come in the near future when she will need more regular assistance than I can provide requiring an in-home nurse/caretaker. I am trying to prepare for her future the best way I can. I don't want her stressing and worrying about trivial matters such as, "Will I be able to afford medication for next month? and the month after that?" She needs to live stressfree and positive!
I was given this advice once, "Never be too scared to ask for help." - A very hard thing to do, so here I am, asking for any help you can give in donating or sharing Gail's story.
If donating is something you're able to do, we would be forever grateful. I have always kept the faith that every $1 leads to a million dollars. If you are unable to donate, your thoughts and prayers for our family is just as appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read this and hear her story. I ask that you join our journey by sharing Gail's story with your family, friends, and loved ones on Facebook and social media to raise awareness for my mother and Multiple Sclerosis.
Commenting on the video attached to this page, Laurie Anne King once said, "I interpreted her stillness and her contentment (with her beloved animals) as an indication of her total acceptance of her limited physicality but in no way does it limit her ability to be fully present and peaceful with the on-goings of the household. Women find it very difficult to just sit down, be still and quiet and watch as others prepare food and clean up. For me, she demonstrated a type of liberation from a self imposed obligation and expectation women cast upon themselves. To me, her wheelchair is irrelevant. What is relevant is her mere beautiful presence. She exudes nurturing without doing but simply being." and I couldn't have said it any better.
My mother exudes nurturing without doing but simply being.
Thank you so much for you time and support. God Bless!
-Jesse
Organizer
Jesse Ringness
Organizer
Frisco, TX
