Single Mom - 4 Brain Aneurysms

Hi, my name is Rachel and I have a friend who is more like a sister that I want you to know about.  Her name is Aaraka and in October 2015, she noticed a large lump in her neck and decided to make a doctor’s appointment.  Through the scans, it was determined that the lumps were gland stones; however, there was something usual in her images.  After additional testing, she found out that she had three “symptomatic internal carotid artery brain aneurysms”.  You can imagine the news turned her life upside down.  She was living with three brain aneurysms and did not even know it.  Aside from the occasional headache or two, she never had any symptoms.

Aaraka is an amazing single mother to two beautiful children, Alec (14) and Austyn (8).  Sadly, Alec suffers from Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) in which there is no cure.  JIA causes his body to flare up with fever and fluid.  He only attends school half the day because he is exhausted and needs to rest.  Her focus has always been on his health and remission.  When she is not focused on Alec, she is busy making sure her daughter has everything that she needs including all A’s in school.

In December 2015, she had the first of many surgeries to repair the first aneurysm by coiling the first aneurysm.  She suffered a mild stroke in recovery and lost feeling  on the right side of her body.  However, she fought back and slowly started to recover at least that is what we thought.  When she returned for her follow-up appointment, the Doctor discovered that the coils were out of place and she had to have emergency surgery.  Aaraka fought back and started to recover yet again to get healthy enough to withstand surgeries on the other of two aneurysms.  Unfortunately, doing a routine angiogram the Doctor cut her artery in her right leg without informing her and sent her home to rest.  Days later, she was in immense pain and rushed back to the hospital again.  The hospital informed her that she was bleeding internally and needed surgery immediately along with two blood transfusions. 

In order for Aaraka to have the surgery on aneurysm #2, her artery needs to be healed and she needs to be healthy.  In the meantime, Aaraka has lost her job due to “downsizing” and she cannot work.  Her medical bills from the initial set of surgeries are piling up because she had a 30% co-pay.  

The hospital is telling my friend “at this time they cannot schedule any future procedures until she pays the balance owed or pay 50% of the amount due”.  Currently, Aaraka owes more than $50,000 in medical bills and credit cards.  She takes 11 medications including hydrocodone-acetaminophen, alprazolam, aspirin, atenolol, Fluoxetine, Ranitidine, Plavix, Buspirone, gabapentin, nortriptyline, and topiramate.  As you can imagine money is very tight right now for her especially since her Doctor's haven't cleared her to go back to work. 

Aaraka is the type of person that will do anything for anyone.  She will go without because she does not know how to ask for help.  No is not in her vocabulary even now with all of her obstacles, she tries to be there for her friends and her family.  She bares the weight of the World on her shoulders and if you look at her, you would not know that she is sick. 

I decided to put this fundraiser together because I want my friend to around to see her children reach their milestones.  I want her to know that she does not have to do it alone and that we love her just as much as she loves us.  I am asking everyone to find it in his or her hearts to donate to Aaraka’s fund.  To share it with their friends and family members until we reach the goal and beyond.  My goal is to surprise Aaraka with a check for more than what she currently owes the hospital because it is no one on the earth that deserves it more than her. 

I want her to focus on staying alive and preparing for her upcoming surgeries.  She still has two active brain aneurysms left and that should be her number #1 priority not stressing about medical bills.  Please share her story with everyone in your lives including family, friends, co-workers, church members, etc. even if it is just to say a pray for her and her children.  Thank you for taking the time to read her story.

Update:  Recently, Aaraka found out that a fourth aneurysm was growing behind her left eye.  As you can imagine this has been a shock to all of use, but we are committed to the fight to win this battle and stay alive.