Ella Bachmeier Medical Fund
Donation protected
They say that life can change in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, "they" are right.
Life for this busy family of seven went from trying to coordinate carpools, practice schedules, homework, and dinner menus to trying to figure out how to care for their other four children while Mom & Dad spend day and night holding vigil over sixteen year old daughter, Ella Bachmeier, a gifted athlete, fighting a grave and debilitating illness in a hospital that is more than 2 hours from home.
Ella experienced her first seizure the morning of Saturday, May 6, 2017 during a sleepover at a friend's house. Never having had seizures before, Ella was rushed to a local hospital. Unable to find the cause, Ella was sent home with instructions to see her pediatrician on Monday.
And so their journey began. She experienced another seizure on Sunday, and then another at the pediatrician's office. She was then referred to Rady's Children's Hospital in San Diego where she had one of her biggest & longest seizures. She was admitted to the Acute Care Ward at Children's on Monday, May 8th. Thankfully, Ella is being cared for and treated by a team of top-notch Pediatric Neurologists.
Currently, Ella is unable to communicate or perform simple tasks that most of us don't even think about and that we take for granted. She sometimes has trouble recognizing friends and family, and her behavior has become atypical, erratic, and very unpredictable. She can go from laughing to crying in less than a second. Sometimes, several nurses are needed to help keep her safe. Thankfully, all of this is expected to be temporary . . . these behaviors are simply symptoms of her illness. But for family and friends, these symptoms are both gut-wrenching and heart-breaking.
Ella has been diagnosed with Anti NMDA Receptor Encephalitis. It is a rare auto immune disease occurring when antibodies produced by the body’s own immune system attack NMDA receptors in the brain. NMDA receptors are proteins that control electrical impulses in the brain. Their functions are critical for judgment, perception of reality, human interaction, the formation and retrieval of memory, and the control of unconscious activities (such as breathing, swallowing, etc.).
Although anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a serious and sometimes life-threatening disease, many patients who receive prompt diagnosis and treatment go on to make a good recovery. We are very hopeful that Ella's illness was caught early.
Recovery is generally slow and may occur over months or even years. The recovery process is often a roller coaster that can be complicated by many ups and downs, possible relapse or re-emergence of symptoms.
The Bachmeiers are a tight-knit, and devout Catholic family. They have five very active and gifted children: Hank 17, Ella 16, Tiger 13, Bear 11, and Buck 7. They are blessed by many friends and family and hope they can count on the love and kindness of these friends and family, or even the kindness of complete strangers, to help them in their hour of need.
The road ahead is long, and it will be very expensive. The family has been renting a hotel since Ella was admitted since there is only room for one parent to sleep overnight in Ella's hospital room. They have been on the waitlist at the Ronald McDonald house since admission. Long term housing may be needed until they are moved off the waitlist. And there will be numerous & ongoing medical expenses.
Supporting the Bachmeier family with whatever you can give will help reduce the financial burden faced by Michael & April and will be greatly appreciated. With financial assistance, The Bachmeier family can focus on helping Ella recover and to eventually return home.
We humbly thank you for your time and consideration.
Whether or not you can donate to help the Bachmeiers, please keep them in your prayers. The power of prayer is truly amazing, so please make Ella and her family part of your daily prayers.
A Facebook group has been set up to follow Ella's recovery at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1951099465122895/?source=create_flow. Please join the group and share your encouragement, ask questions, or even share your own stories or experiences with this debilitating illness.
With love and appreciation,
Lynn, Ken, Cam & JJ Moran, friends of
The Bachmeier Family
Michael, April, Hank, Ella, Tiger, Bear & Buck
God Bless!!
Life for this busy family of seven went from trying to coordinate carpools, practice schedules, homework, and dinner menus to trying to figure out how to care for their other four children while Mom & Dad spend day and night holding vigil over sixteen year old daughter, Ella Bachmeier, a gifted athlete, fighting a grave and debilitating illness in a hospital that is more than 2 hours from home.
Ella experienced her first seizure the morning of Saturday, May 6, 2017 during a sleepover at a friend's house. Never having had seizures before, Ella was rushed to a local hospital. Unable to find the cause, Ella was sent home with instructions to see her pediatrician on Monday.
And so their journey began. She experienced another seizure on Sunday, and then another at the pediatrician's office. She was then referred to Rady's Children's Hospital in San Diego where she had one of her biggest & longest seizures. She was admitted to the Acute Care Ward at Children's on Monday, May 8th. Thankfully, Ella is being cared for and treated by a team of top-notch Pediatric Neurologists.
Currently, Ella is unable to communicate or perform simple tasks that most of us don't even think about and that we take for granted. She sometimes has trouble recognizing friends and family, and her behavior has become atypical, erratic, and very unpredictable. She can go from laughing to crying in less than a second. Sometimes, several nurses are needed to help keep her safe. Thankfully, all of this is expected to be temporary . . . these behaviors are simply symptoms of her illness. But for family and friends, these symptoms are both gut-wrenching and heart-breaking.
Ella has been diagnosed with Anti NMDA Receptor Encephalitis. It is a rare auto immune disease occurring when antibodies produced by the body’s own immune system attack NMDA receptors in the brain. NMDA receptors are proteins that control electrical impulses in the brain. Their functions are critical for judgment, perception of reality, human interaction, the formation and retrieval of memory, and the control of unconscious activities (such as breathing, swallowing, etc.).
Although anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a serious and sometimes life-threatening disease, many patients who receive prompt diagnosis and treatment go on to make a good recovery. We are very hopeful that Ella's illness was caught early.
Recovery is generally slow and may occur over months or even years. The recovery process is often a roller coaster that can be complicated by many ups and downs, possible relapse or re-emergence of symptoms.
The Bachmeiers are a tight-knit, and devout Catholic family. They have five very active and gifted children: Hank 17, Ella 16, Tiger 13, Bear 11, and Buck 7. They are blessed by many friends and family and hope they can count on the love and kindness of these friends and family, or even the kindness of complete strangers, to help them in their hour of need.
The road ahead is long, and it will be very expensive. The family has been renting a hotel since Ella was admitted since there is only room for one parent to sleep overnight in Ella's hospital room. They have been on the waitlist at the Ronald McDonald house since admission. Long term housing may be needed until they are moved off the waitlist. And there will be numerous & ongoing medical expenses.
Supporting the Bachmeier family with whatever you can give will help reduce the financial burden faced by Michael & April and will be greatly appreciated. With financial assistance, The Bachmeier family can focus on helping Ella recover and to eventually return home.
We humbly thank you for your time and consideration.
Whether or not you can donate to help the Bachmeiers, please keep them in your prayers. The power of prayer is truly amazing, so please make Ella and her family part of your daily prayers.
A Facebook group has been set up to follow Ella's recovery at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1951099465122895/?source=create_flow. Please join the group and share your encouragement, ask questions, or even share your own stories or experiences with this debilitating illness.
With love and appreciation,
Lynn, Ken, Cam & JJ Moran, friends of
The Bachmeier Family
Michael, April, Hank, Ella, Tiger, Bear & Buck
God Bless!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Lynn Moran
Organizer
Carlsbad, CA
April Bachmeier
Beneficiary
