Brittany Parrett’s Journey

As many of you know, Brittany Parrett was sent immediately to the ER during her follow up appointment with her neurologist on Friday, October 5th 2018.  She has been seeing a primary care physician, a podiatrist and a neurologist since November 2017 regarding severe burning, pain, numbness and increasing foot deformity that eventually spread up to her calf. The burning became so severe and began in her left leg about a month ago. Since November, she has lost approximately 40 pounds. She has had orthotics, foot therapy and multiple medications with no success. She has suffered her whole life with unknown auto-immune disease that has not been figured out. 

During her appointment, she went in to severe full body convulsions, uncontrollable muscle contractions and dystonia. She was first sent to Albany Medical Center where she severely convulsed for 12 hours but due to lack of treatment and negligence of care, they discharged her knowing she was unable to walk. They sent her home with no answers. She then went to Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, and as her conditions worsened, she was admitted from the neuro unit to ICU. She experienced 6 hours of full body paralysis, is unable to walk, has poor vision, light sensitivity, memory loss, difficulty reading/reading/writing/texting, has low iron, a high resting heart rate (blood pressure is always perfect though), no fever, but has been profusely sweating, trouble with speech, and is currently having paralysis from the torso down. She received 5 days of IVIG infusions for 4 1/2 hours each day, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. She had a spinal tap and it has been confirmed that her white blood cell count high. The neurologist had enough spinal fluid to send out to the Mayo Clinic in hopes they can figure out a diagnosis. We are now waiting results from the Mayo Clinic in hopes that they can figure out what extremely rare disease is causing this. 

Unfortunately, due to the fact that Brittany has not received a diagnosis yet.. the hospital is unable to treat her any further and is discharging her today until they hear from the Mayo Clinic. The next step would be for her to go to a rehab facility to begin physical therapy to try to learn how to walk again, and perform every day functions. Unfortunately, once again due to the fact that there is still no diagnosis, her insurance will not cover rehab. If the Mayo Clinic cannot come up with a diagnosis, she will be sent to NY Presbyterian Hospital. 

Brittany has a long road to recovery ahead of her and if all the unknowns aren’t scary enough, the medical bills and her other financial obligations are piling up HIGH, especially after: EMG testing, 2 brain MRI’s, catscan of her chest/abdomen/pelvis, Lumbar MRI, and a cervical and thoracic MRI. As a dental hygienist, she can not return to work until she is fully recovered. She already has a $5000 deductible that needs to paid from last year and $5,000 from this year, in addition to the copays for her 3 ER visits, almost 2 week hospital stay, infusions and the other treatments she has received to help her thus far. She is going to need to seek physical therapy from an outside source and figure out how to gain her strength back until she finally receives some results. She will now be using a cane, walker and forearm crutches to try to walk again, and a wheelchair as well.

Brittany is SO thankful for all the love and support that people have showed her throughout this trying time. If you are able to assist in anyway, it is greatly appreciated! Every little bit helps and gets her one step closer on her road to recovery.