Crystal's Fan Page
Donation protected
Crystal was admitted to St. John's Mercy in St. Louis on Friday, October 11 with a severe headache, fever, no sleep for 3 days straight, and strange behavior including hallucinations. After a spinal tap they started treating her for meningitis as they found a high level of white blood cells in her spinal fluid. Her hallucinations continued for a few days but after she suffered a seizure later that week she slipped into a catatonic state. Another spinal tap was performed and a neurologist then diagnosed Crystal on Wednesday, October 23 with a very rare auto immune disease called NMDA Receptor Antibody Encephalitis. This disease was just recently discovered in 2007 and mainly affects young people (mostly women). Basically what happens with this disease that antibodies that are supposed to recognize and fight infection are reacting instead against the proteins in her brain. Crystal's brain is now inflamed which is causing her lack of consciousness. You might have
heard of a recent NY Times Bestseller called Brain on Fire written by a 24 year old girl with this same condition. It is treatable and Crystal's treatment started with steroids and now IMig treatment (immunoglobulins injected into her veins). Although these therapies offer a good chance of recovery it is going to be a very slow process resulting in many months in the hospital (may stay in the ICU) and she won't be able to return to work for quite some time. We started this page to help Crystal out while she's "away." For those of you that dont know Crystal, she's 29, she recently bought a house on her own, she's a manager at at La Bonne Bouchee in Creve Coeur, she's extremely crafty, she loves her cat Meow Meow, and she's probably the biggest St. Louis Cardinal's fan in the world. Any amount you can give would be greatly appreciated by Jane and Frank (Crystal's mom and dad) and Crystal herself. We know she can hear us and she will be back before we know it, let's show her some love and let her know we are all rooting for her! Go Crystal, Go Cards!
heard of a recent NY Times Bestseller called Brain on Fire written by a 24 year old girl with this same condition. It is treatable and Crystal's treatment started with steroids and now IMig treatment (immunoglobulins injected into her veins). Although these therapies offer a good chance of recovery it is going to be a very slow process resulting in many months in the hospital (may stay in the ICU) and she won't be able to return to work for quite some time. We started this page to help Crystal out while she's "away." For those of you that dont know Crystal, she's 29, she recently bought a house on her own, she's a manager at at La Bonne Bouchee in Creve Coeur, she's extremely crafty, she loves her cat Meow Meow, and she's probably the biggest St. Louis Cardinal's fan in the world. Any amount you can give would be greatly appreciated by Jane and Frank (Crystal's mom and dad) and Crystal herself. We know she can hear us and she will be back before we know it, let's show her some love and let her know we are all rooting for her! Go Crystal, Go Cards!
Organizer
Becki Feldmann
Organizer
City of Saint Peters, MO
