Emily Broere Fund

Emily Broere's Story: Emily is an amazing 16 year old girl who has been through several surgeries, 11 now to be exact, and her family needs help with the expenses related to caring for her. The timeline below outlines Emily's journey. She and her family need a miracle.

·      May, 2013, Emily had a sudden escalation of pain and found a “giant purple lump” on her back.  Doctor ordered an ultrasound, was worried it was a tumor.  Test results showed a pilonidal cyst, and radiologist said it was important to go to the ER .  Took her to All Children’s ER – they diagnosed told us we needed a surgeon and sent us home.

·      July, 2013, Emily had her first cyst removed.   She started her freshman year on time that year, but started school with an open wound packed with gauze.

·      September, 2013, Emily’s wound tunneled, she needed another procedure to open it back up and start the healing again. 

·      This wound finally healed in late 2013, and she finished her freshman year.  In her sophomore year of high school, she joined the swim team as a long distance swimmer.  She was also an honor student. 

·      In January, 2015, Emily started complaining of back pain. At first, there was nothing to see, but suddenly she started having drainage come from her back.  The surgeon put her on antibiotics. These wouldn’t help.

·      Suddenly in late February 2015, after Emily continuing to have pain and drainage, her surgeon said we needed to pick her up from school and bring her in for emergency surgery.  He was concerned about this area being infected.   She was placed in isolation for two days, but all bacterial counts came back clear.  She was left with an open wound that had to heal from the inside out.  While we were hospitalized, our car was vandalized at St. Joseph’s hospital – the van window was smashed and Emily’s backpack with all of her school books/calculator, glasses, notes were stolen.  $500 deductible on top of replacing her items!  Emily was inpatient from 2/25/15 – 3/3/15.

·      Around this time, my husband stopped working full time to take care of Emily.  She was unable to return to school and entered the hospital homebound program.  Teachers will only come if a parent is home.  My husband started working part time instead.

·      4/28/15 ultrasound, more pain     

·      5/21/15 MRI, still in pain!

·      6/4/15 – another incision & drainage for Emily.  Placed on a wound vac and sent home the same day!  

·      6/15/15 – Emily’s sweet 16!  Not well enough to celebrate. 

·      Continued pain even after this wound closed. 7/29/15 sent for MRI.

·      Meanwhile, we took out two charge cards to help pay the bills since my husband was working  part time.  We maxed them out.

·      September, 2015 – MRI shows tunneling wound, her wound became a chronic non-healing wound.

·      NEW SURGEON!  9/28/15 – Emily went to the ER due to pain.  Operated on 9/29 and stayed inpatient through 10/2.  The surgical site was sewn closed. However, she continued to have pain.

·      10/30/15 – ultrasound   11/6/15 another ultrasound 11/17/15 MRI, showed a tunnel from her skin right down to the bone.   Doctor was very concerned about the potential for a bone infection.  Put her on antibiotics as a precaution.

·      11/20/15 – emergency room – another surgery – admitted 11/20-11/22.  Tried to be minimally invasive and cauterized the tunnel, hoping it would close.

·      Around this time, my husband had to go to work full time. 

·      Continued pain and tunnel did not close.  Admitted 12/7/15 – 12/18/15.  I always stay with her for her admissions, but ran out of sick time.  Two weeks of no pay.  During this time, Emily was seen by rheumatology, immunology and infectious diseases to rule out any auto-immune problems or any rare infections she may have.  All tests were FINE and she was found to be completely healthy.  But in pain.  She was operated on twice during this time – once to open her up and do another I&D (incision and drainage) and put a wound vac on – they wanted to make sure she initially was healing well.  Since she was, they went back in several days later to clean it out again and do another cleft lift.

·      Continued pain!  1/7/16 ultrasound  1/20/16 MRI – shows only post-surgical inflammation, which is difficult to see through. 3/2/16 MRI – shows more free fluid, deep at coccyx.  Admitted 3/8/16 – 3/13/16.  I took sick leave for two weeks after this admission, and coworkers donated sick time so that I could afford to stay with her.  

·      3/28/16 – called an ambulance and took her to the hospital – she was SCREAMING and CRYING in pain that even morphine would not help.  CT scan showed just post surgical inflammation.

·      4/6/16 consulted a third surgeon.  He said he would review her records and contact our surgeon.  He was concerned about a possible bone infection (which tests were negative for that). Despite multiple phone calls, he took until 5-10-16 to get back to us.  We needed surgery before then, Emily was in so much pain.

·      4/28/16 – another I&D.  This time with a wound vac.  Hole in her back is 3x3x3.   Hospitalized until 5/5/16. Dressings need to be changed 2x weekly.  We have been doing these under general anesthesia because she is in so much pain.   At this point I went out on FMLA leave.  I have requested sick leave donations again, and days have been donated, however, several days will be unpaid. 

·      Physical therapist is coming to our home to evaluate her tomorrow.  We are trying to find a pain/rehabilitation specialist to help her get back on her feet, with high hopes that we can get this wound to heal properly.  At her last dressing change on 5/10/16, the doctor told us that although the incision continues to close, there was a piece of “decayed tissue” that had to be cut off of her.  Hoping that there are no other healing issues.

· At this time,  we have decided to sell our home. We are looking for a smaller home that has a pool. I really believe a pool will help in Emily's healing - and help get her back to what she loves - swimming.