Emily and Taryn's Health Journey
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In December 2016, Emily and Taryn began their “health journey”, as Emily developed a series of dental infections that turned into a bone infection. Many antibiotics were required at that time, resulting in damage to her stomach and intestines. This led to Emily being admitted to hospital for dehydration and malnutrition in April, 2017. While in hospital, Emily’s health care team discovered that her stomach had stopped working, causing her to be unable to eat or drink anything. After a couple of months in hospital, as Emily’s health deteriorated rapidly, her health care team decided to place a feeding tube past her stomach into her small bowel, in order to provide her with nutrition and hydration. A month after that surgery, Emily was able to go home, receiving all of her nutrition and most of her hydration through a feeding tube into her small intestine.
In January, 2018, Emily was admitted to hospital again with extreme abdominal pain and distension as her large intestine had stopped working, was filling up with air and in danger of rupturing. It was discovered that her colon was not functioning properly and would no longer tolerate nutrition through the feeding tube in her small intestine. Emily’s health care team decided that the only way to provide her with nutrition and hydration was by total parental nutrition (TPN). TPN is a form of nutrition given directly into the blood stream, totally bypassing the stomach and intestines. This form of nutrition has major risks, as it may cause liver failure and life threatening blood infections, and therefore requires close monitoring for safety.
Since January, 2018, despite numerous attempts and the assistance of numerous specialists, Emily has been unable to use her small bowel feeding tube, has experienced other serious intestinal complications and struggles with basic daily activity. Her health care team recently referred her to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
On November 6, 2018, Emily’s appointments at the Mayo Clinic began. After assessment by a Gastroenterologist who specializes in motility disorders, further medical consults and tests were scheduled over a 3 week period. After the first week, the associated expenses of the medical consults, completed tests, scheduled tests, and travel is $24,000. As Emily’s test results come back, the Mayo Physicians will be able to order more specific testing to direct their treatment and recommendations, so the expense total will not be known until the end of her stay. At this point, a reasonable estimate is $40,000 CDN.
Emily and Taryn are providing updates about their “Health Journey” on a Facebook Group site and via emails. People interested in the joining the Facebook Group may send a request to join ‘Emily and Taryn’s Health Journey’ on that site.
Thank you for your support toward Emily and Taryn's Health Journey.
In January, 2018, Emily was admitted to hospital again with extreme abdominal pain and distension as her large intestine had stopped working, was filling up with air and in danger of rupturing. It was discovered that her colon was not functioning properly and would no longer tolerate nutrition through the feeding tube in her small intestine. Emily’s health care team decided that the only way to provide her with nutrition and hydration was by total parental nutrition (TPN). TPN is a form of nutrition given directly into the blood stream, totally bypassing the stomach and intestines. This form of nutrition has major risks, as it may cause liver failure and life threatening blood infections, and therefore requires close monitoring for safety.
Since January, 2018, despite numerous attempts and the assistance of numerous specialists, Emily has been unable to use her small bowel feeding tube, has experienced other serious intestinal complications and struggles with basic daily activity. Her health care team recently referred her to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
On November 6, 2018, Emily’s appointments at the Mayo Clinic began. After assessment by a Gastroenterologist who specializes in motility disorders, further medical consults and tests were scheduled over a 3 week period. After the first week, the associated expenses of the medical consults, completed tests, scheduled tests, and travel is $24,000. As Emily’s test results come back, the Mayo Physicians will be able to order more specific testing to direct their treatment and recommendations, so the expense total will not be known until the end of her stay. At this point, a reasonable estimate is $40,000 CDN.
Emily and Taryn are providing updates about their “Health Journey” on a Facebook Group site and via emails. People interested in the joining the Facebook Group may send a request to join ‘Emily and Taryn’s Health Journey’ on that site.
Thank you for your support toward Emily and Taryn's Health Journey.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sheila Hosain
Organizer
Saskatoon, SK
Emily Zacharias
Beneficiary
