Rebekah's Medical Fund
Donation protected
PLEASE SEE UPDATE BELOW. THANKS 7/31/16
My daughter Rebekah had been complaining of problems with pain and legs especially when she excercised or did any strenous excercise. She noticed that pain would start from mid back and wrap around her chest making it difficult to breath.
She complained of signifcant fatique, low grade temperatures and lower leg weakness to the point at times her legs would just give out. We went to a Neurologist who ordered tests to rule out MS and Lupus, which were negative. It was this test that showed a large tumor on my daughters spine.
At 26 she was diagnosed with agressive Osteoblastoma, a bony tumor on the spine. She was told by both Yale MD and Slone Kettering Cancer Hospital that the tumor needed to be removed as soon as possible.
Surgery was approximately 7 hours. Unfortunately, during the surgery the MD had to touch the cervical spine area and she currently has incision from C7-T4. Complications arose after surgery causing concern. She had been in the hospital close to 2 weeks. When she was discharged home, she was wheelchair bound, maximum assistance for all everyday needs. She had gone from a vibrant active individual to someone who required total care. She slowly started to improve but the other symptoms of extreme fatique, low grade temperatures, leg weakness, retaining fluids were not believed by the MD to be related to the tumor on the spine. Rebekah slowly progressed from wheelchair to walker to cane. This was 3 years ago now. She is now 29 years old, is in chronic pain located in the neck region, suffered neuropathy in both lower extremities. She uses a cane at all times for short distances. She is easily fatiqued and easily winded. She has difficulty breathing at times and is currently having a cardiac work up due to high heart rates in 130-140's.
The pain Rebekah has ranges 8-10/10. She sees a pain management specialist that is also her neurologist and he proposed to her last visit a new type of injection instead of botox, called PRP. It uses her own blood and it is put through a process once this process is finished it is then injected at the pain sites. He stated that he felt Rebekah could highly benefit from these injections and it could take the pain completely away. Of course he couldn't guarntee this but felt it would be worth trying due to her young age. He opined that she would most likely need 5 shots. Unfortunately, each injection is $1000.00 and she would get one then 2 weeks later have a second. Then they would be monthly for the series of 5 shots or more. The first injection he would like to administer on December 11, 2015.
I am currently unable to work many hours and my husband is a disabled Veteran. The cost of $1000.00 shot is overwhelming to us. I definitely want to try this if there is a possiblity that my daughter could be pain free and not on opiods for the rest of her life. This means more than words can express. My heart breaks for her.
I would be forever grateful more than I can express to everyone for any gift towards obtaining these shots. I see this as an opportunity for my daughter to get her life back and start living again.
Thank you and bless you for your support
7/31/16
Well update. I am reaching out again for my daughter, Becky who needs a 1 time shot that is suppose to be more powerful in growing new tissue then the PRP. Those shots have helped tremdously but Neurologist wants her to have this one time shot which could prove to have a serious improvement and pain reduction.
i am currently unemployed and live off my husbands monthly which isnt much. If you are able to help thats fantastic. Just the support financially. Spiritually thru prayers are ever so appreciated. God Bless
sue
Organizer
Susan DeVivo-Mosier Ellis
Organizer
Northford, CT
