Andrea needs life changing surgery

I have been struggling with illness for some time now. This has been the hardest year for me of all. It started with pancreatitis then gastroparesis.

On March 11th, I became paralyzed mid-step. One foot went down on the other, hinging my  weight of my body (195 lbs) and I felt every bone that broke. At first, trying to stop it made the breaks worse. Somehow I managed muster up some strength to get closer to my table to push myself over so I could stop myself from breaking my own foot. No doctor knew what or why it happened until I saw my sleep doctor in July. I was then diagnosed with Narcolepsy type 1 (with cataplexy). Narcolepsy is not entirely like what you see in Hollywood and can differ from person to person. Cataplexy can cause transient muscle weakness or sudden paralysis. 

Because of the opioid crisis, I was treated poorly by the 911 operator and also by Mercy Hospital Anderson. They didn’t believe me until they got the results back from the ct-scan. I had an x-Ray also prior to the ct-scan and still wasn’t given adequate medication to help with the excruciating pain. 

I have 3 upcoming surgeries on my feet that need to be done (one is for bone fusion from the lisfranc injury). Each of these are a year recovery and that will be difficult to do with 3 young children to take care of. The other two surgeries are listed below.

My husband gets no pay while on FMLA leave from work. He also has been struggling and trying his best to help. 

I have endured 10 years of emotional abuse that he is working through with anger management and a therapist. This started in his childhood from physical and emotional abuse he endured. We want to try and work through everything but sometimes you can’t heal in the same environment that caused you to be sick. This is something we are trying our best to work through. 

I have lost 80 lbs since February 2018 from having gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). I would much rather be able to eat. I miss food.

I also suffer from fibromyalgia, myofacial pain, TMJ, Bunions on both feet that require surgery and a year recovery for each. In addition, I have cervical neuropathy, neuropathy, chronic neck and back pain, depression, anxiety, problems with my ovaries, other lady issues, sciatica and complex-PTSD. 

Some of my family, including my husband didn’t believe me. My husband changed his tune after I got the diagnosis of Narcolepsy and Cataplexy. We are still struggling though. My Narcolepsy and Cataplexy is triggered by negative emotions. I’ve gone down several times since my worst incident. 

Making it to so many appointments for myself, my kids and my husband is a struggle. I have spent most of my year bedridden trying my hardest to take care of everyone and everything but myself. It’s like I tried to put oxygen masks on everyone on an airplane that was going down but failed because I didn’t put mine on first. 

Im buried under paperwork and struggle daily with chronic pain and trying to take care of my kids. My husbands FMLA runs out soon. 

We need prayers and any amount you can give would be so helpful and greatly appreciated. If we receive more than what is needed it will go towards my children’s education or expenses so they can participate in sports or other activities.