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**Brain Surgery for My Sister**



A little over 3 years ago, what began as a normal practice for my sister's varsity volleyball team she coached ended very differently. One ruptured achilles kicked off a series of events that have altered her life forever.  Less than four months after her initial achilles repair, doctors discovered staph bacteria on one of the sutures used in the initial surgery, resulting in 3 ADDITIONAL surgeries to clean out and repair the original injury that never healed properly because of the infection. All of this took place within the span of 6 months. Fast forward to 2019 and my strong sister has totaled 10 surgeries in 4 years now for various injuries and conditions, some from old damage that occurred during her time as a Division 1 student-athlete at the University of Florida, and some new that have stemmed from all the complications with her achilles. That being said, we celebrated her being 18 months surgery free last spring, with no idea the news we would be receiving this fall... 

After over a year of dealing with debilitating headaches, migraines, nausea, vertigo and other conditions, accompanied by a year of visit after visit to various doctors running test after test with no real solutions, we finally have an answer. Nicole, my previously vibrant, athletic sister and mother of 2, has been diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Malformation. It is a condition she has apparently had since birth, but that frequently does not show symptoms until later in life. We don't know if all of her recent medical struggles have contributed to the sudden onset and severity of her symptoms or not, all we know is for the past 18 months or so we have watched as she battles these constant headaches and dizzy spells, fighting to remain strong for both her teams and her family, while all the while not having a day she has truly felt GOOD in nearly two years. My sister, Candice (Nicole) Thorn, whom I am SO PROUD of, is one of the absolute strongest people I know, which is why it absolutely breaks my heart to see her in so much pain.

The good news is by the Grace of God, Nikki was able to get into a renowned neurosurgeon this past week and he offered a solution that is likely to provide near immediate relief after her rehabilitation period. The bad news is, that solution is brain surgery, and honestly who wouldn't be a little afraid of that. Plus as the bills from previous surgeries continue to come in and pile up I know the idea of adding another much more complicated surgery like a brain operation is certainly not ideal, but I am so glad she and her husband have made the courageous decision to have the surgery anyway and trust God has already made a way. 

This is where I (and hopefully YOU) can come in. It amazes me how expensive healthcare can be even after insurance and for years I have wanted to begin a GoFundMe to help with my sister's mounting expenses, but she is proud, humble (and stubborn lol) and wouldn't let me. However, in the midst of this latest storm I now have her blessing, and I am just so incredibly excited to WATCH GOD WORK through the good hearts of so many of our family, friends, teammates, coworkers and maybe even a few strangers who will prayerfully consider aiding me in this endeavor. I know there are so many causes worthy of your time and hard earned money, but I truly believe if we can all band together through donations, big and small, we can pull together to do something REALLY special for a woman who has given so much of her time and energy to others, and a family who is so deserving of the Lord showing up and showing out in a HUGE way! While financial contributions are immensely appreciated, those who are unable to give can still greatly help us by keeping my dear sissy in your thoughts and prayers, especially over these next few months. Thank you for your time and God Bless!  

~Amber
Ephesians 3:20



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Donations 

  • Vanessa Terry
    • $250 
    • 4 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Amber McCray
Organizer
Longview, TX
Candice Thorn
Beneficiary

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