Mother of 4 Needs Brain Surgery
Donation protected
Sarah Ashley of Belgrade, Montana, was officially diagnosed with Chiari 1 Malformation and POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) in January 2015. She was also diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Raynauds in November 2013. Chiari 1 Malformation is a condition where Sarah’s brain is herniated out of her skull and is jammed down into her spinal canal. It occurs when part of the skull is abnormally small or shaped, pressing on the brain and forcing it downward. Chiari 1 Malformation develops as the skull and brain are growing. As a result, signs and symptoms may not occur until late childhood or adulthood.
Sarah’s symptoms were exacerbated after a car accident in Dec 2012 when her vehicle was rear ended and she suffered a spinal cord injury, severe whiplash, and a concussion. She may have continued to live a normal life had this accident not occurred.
Over the past 2 years Sarah’s condition has continued to deteriorate and she is able to do less and less for herself and her family. At this time, Sarah’s brain stem, nerve bundles, and blood vessels are being compressed in her vertebral canal.
Recently, I sat in on two of her Dr’s appointments and was blown away by All THAT is going on inside her…. You’d never guess by her big smile.
These are just some of her health issues because honestly there were too many to note:
*Loss of feeling in her hands and feet
*Nerve pain, numbness, and tingling from head to toe
*She is not able to regulate her body temperature
*Swan neck (neck curve is reversing)
*Many different kinds of headaches and migraines
*Close to passing out when she coughs, sneezes, laughs, or cries
*Chest Pain, commonly has heart rates in the 90’s or 100’s with no activity, with very low blood pressure, and frequent tachycardia
*Hearing, vision, sleep, and cognitive issues
*Short term memory loss
*Overall body weakness
*Tremors
*Motor and sensory deficits
*Poor balance, dizziness, and vertigo
*Scoliosis
*Her pituitary gland is being smashed by cerebral spinal fluid
*Hyper Mobility… 38 joints that are activity dislocating or subluxing (thus her famous taping style and sliver ring splints on her fingers)
*Esophagus, stomach, and bowels are fully or partially paralyzed and she has no gag reflux
Sadly, her health and functional ability will continue to decline if she does not have this surgery and she might be in a wheelchair… sooner than later. Doctors have advised Sarah she is at high risk for a severe stroke or sudden death. Currently she only experiences relief of some issues if she is laying down because there is less compression on her spinal canal. It is hard to be a wife, mom, and active member of the church when you are lying down. Let’s help Sarah get back on her feet!
Sarah has seen over 30 different doctors and specialist for her condition. Currently, Sarah is working with a team of 16 doctors and specialists to help her. Because Chiari is an unusual condition there are only 5 surgeons IN THE COUNRTY who specialize in Chiari surgery. In January, Sarah met with her neurosurgeon for tests and it was determined by her surgeon that she urgently needs to have this surgery.
There are obvious risks associated with brain surgery and Sarah has taken those risks into consideration. However, considering Sarah’s current health state she is having faith to move forward with surgery on Wednesday, April 22, in North Carolina.
During surgery, the neurosurgeon will permanently remove part of the base of her skull (decompression), open the protective sack around her brain (the dura), cauterize and remove part of her cerebellum (cerebral tonsils), put in a bovine (dura) patch, and take off the back of C1 vertebra, and possiblly C2 as well. Sarah is expected to have a 3-4 day hospital stay, and then she will have a local stay of 1 ½ weeks. She will have checkups in North Carolina at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year.
Now this is where WE NEED YOU… and we need you BIG TIME.
Sarah was forced to quit her job in September 2014 when the symptoms became too much. Davis has been able to provide for the basic needs of their family of 6. He works 2 jobs and is involved in the ministry at Christ's Church in Bozeman, MT. Several of you have already stepped in to help financially, help transport her kids (ages 10, 9, 7, 5) to and from school, babysit, help with laundry, clean their home, drop off dinner, and offer an encouraging word. Thank you!
Thankfully, Sarah’s health insurance will pay for her surgery (thank you Jesus!).
However, the nonmedical costs of this surgery are overwhelming for Sarah and her family. They have already spent so much on her health needs for other non-surgery related items.
The nonmedical costs total $15,000. Costs includes 9 airplane tickets to NC (she has 3 follow up appts after surgery and will need someone to accompany her on each visit), weeks of hotel costs, rental car costs for each visit, loss of income while her husband, Davis, is in NC during surgery, food costs while in NC for several weeks…etc.).
1st Please pray hard core for Sarah and her family- for her surgery, her surgeon, and her recovery. The surgeon is confident many of Sarah’s conditions will resolve within a year to three years after surgery. There is a possibility Sarah will need more surgeries in the future, but this is the 1st recommended step.
2nd Please share Sarah’s information and this GoFundMe page. The more people who know Sarah’s story the more prayer & more financial help for the Ashley family.
3rd Please assist financially- what you provide will be greatly appreciated and valued by the Ashley family. Really they are one of the most gracious and thankful families I know.
Feel free to ask Sarah questions. Thank you for spreading Sarah’s story. Thank you for helping in any or all of these 3 areas! The Ashley family is most grateful and quite humbled by your love and care.
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 139:13-14
Sarah’s symptoms were exacerbated after a car accident in Dec 2012 when her vehicle was rear ended and she suffered a spinal cord injury, severe whiplash, and a concussion. She may have continued to live a normal life had this accident not occurred.
Over the past 2 years Sarah’s condition has continued to deteriorate and she is able to do less and less for herself and her family. At this time, Sarah’s brain stem, nerve bundles, and blood vessels are being compressed in her vertebral canal.
Recently, I sat in on two of her Dr’s appointments and was blown away by All THAT is going on inside her…. You’d never guess by her big smile.
These are just some of her health issues because honestly there were too many to note:
*Loss of feeling in her hands and feet
*Nerve pain, numbness, and tingling from head to toe
*She is not able to regulate her body temperature
*Swan neck (neck curve is reversing)
*Many different kinds of headaches and migraines
*Close to passing out when she coughs, sneezes, laughs, or cries
*Chest Pain, commonly has heart rates in the 90’s or 100’s with no activity, with very low blood pressure, and frequent tachycardia
*Hearing, vision, sleep, and cognitive issues
*Short term memory loss
*Overall body weakness
*Tremors
*Motor and sensory deficits
*Poor balance, dizziness, and vertigo
*Scoliosis
*Her pituitary gland is being smashed by cerebral spinal fluid
*Hyper Mobility… 38 joints that are activity dislocating or subluxing (thus her famous taping style and sliver ring splints on her fingers)
*Esophagus, stomach, and bowels are fully or partially paralyzed and she has no gag reflux
Sadly, her health and functional ability will continue to decline if she does not have this surgery and she might be in a wheelchair… sooner than later. Doctors have advised Sarah she is at high risk for a severe stroke or sudden death. Currently she only experiences relief of some issues if she is laying down because there is less compression on her spinal canal. It is hard to be a wife, mom, and active member of the church when you are lying down. Let’s help Sarah get back on her feet!
Sarah has seen over 30 different doctors and specialist for her condition. Currently, Sarah is working with a team of 16 doctors and specialists to help her. Because Chiari is an unusual condition there are only 5 surgeons IN THE COUNRTY who specialize in Chiari surgery. In January, Sarah met with her neurosurgeon for tests and it was determined by her surgeon that she urgently needs to have this surgery.
There are obvious risks associated with brain surgery and Sarah has taken those risks into consideration. However, considering Sarah’s current health state she is having faith to move forward with surgery on Wednesday, April 22, in North Carolina.
During surgery, the neurosurgeon will permanently remove part of the base of her skull (decompression), open the protective sack around her brain (the dura), cauterize and remove part of her cerebellum (cerebral tonsils), put in a bovine (dura) patch, and take off the back of C1 vertebra, and possiblly C2 as well. Sarah is expected to have a 3-4 day hospital stay, and then she will have a local stay of 1 ½ weeks. She will have checkups in North Carolina at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year.
Now this is where WE NEED YOU… and we need you BIG TIME.
Sarah was forced to quit her job in September 2014 when the symptoms became too much. Davis has been able to provide for the basic needs of their family of 6. He works 2 jobs and is involved in the ministry at Christ's Church in Bozeman, MT. Several of you have already stepped in to help financially, help transport her kids (ages 10, 9, 7, 5) to and from school, babysit, help with laundry, clean their home, drop off dinner, and offer an encouraging word. Thank you!
Thankfully, Sarah’s health insurance will pay for her surgery (thank you Jesus!).
However, the nonmedical costs of this surgery are overwhelming for Sarah and her family. They have already spent so much on her health needs for other non-surgery related items.
The nonmedical costs total $15,000. Costs includes 9 airplane tickets to NC (she has 3 follow up appts after surgery and will need someone to accompany her on each visit), weeks of hotel costs, rental car costs for each visit, loss of income while her husband, Davis, is in NC during surgery, food costs while in NC for several weeks…etc.).
1st Please pray hard core for Sarah and her family- for her surgery, her surgeon, and her recovery. The surgeon is confident many of Sarah’s conditions will resolve within a year to three years after surgery. There is a possibility Sarah will need more surgeries in the future, but this is the 1st recommended step.
2nd Please share Sarah’s information and this GoFundMe page. The more people who know Sarah’s story the more prayer & more financial help for the Ashley family.
3rd Please assist financially- what you provide will be greatly appreciated and valued by the Ashley family. Really they are one of the most gracious and thankful families I know.
Feel free to ask Sarah questions. Thank you for spreading Sarah’s story. Thank you for helping in any or all of these 3 areas! The Ashley family is most grateful and quite humbled by your love and care.
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 139:13-14
Organizer
Mequel Baril
Organizer
Belgrade, MT
