Better Quality Of Life For YJ

Hi my name is Yolanda Jordan. My illness began in April of 2007, but it wasn't until 2008 before I was diagnosed by a team of doctors at UF Shands Neurological Center of Gainesville Florida with a neuroligical illness called Cervical Dystonia. I've been living with it for almost 11 years now. I've become disabled because of the illness. It causes involuntary body movements that are very painful. Thus far it's not curable. I take a series of medications that consist of 17 1/2 pills taken throughout the day, daily, to help me function as best as possible. I also have been receiving botox injections every three months for over nine years to help stabilize my body as well because of the dystonia. Some days these things are effective and some days they're not. Over the years nothing has really controlled the muscle and nerve spasms, pain and body movements. Sometimes the attacks are so severe they cause me to be unconscious for periods of time. I spend 70% of my life at home resting. I'm easily exhausted and always in pain. My parents assist with many of my needs as I am unable to take care of many day to day activities by myself. Recently, desperate to find something or someone to help me, I saw a doctor on YouTube in California who helps patients with Cervical Dystonia with TMJ related problems. He refered me specifically to a Craniofacial dentist in Atlanta, GA who helps patients with Cervical Dystonia that also may have TMJ problems. There are currently only three facilities in the U.S. that provide this type of service. The one in California, Baltimore, MD and Atlanta, GA. I spoke with the doctor (Dr. Mayoor Patel) myself and he said that my body movements may be triggered by TMJ problems. The only way to know for sure is by a visit to his office. That's a five hour drive from where I live in Jacksonville, FL. The cost that is out of pocket is $2,100 for only the device for my mouth. Insurance does not cover any Dystonia patients for this particular kind of service. It will take three visits for them to help provide the needed care such as exams, x-rays, impressions and any other equipment to be used in my mouth to help assist with the relief. We will have to travel back and forth to Atlanta. Funds for rooming, fuel and food expenses for the next six months for travel are needed also. Anything you can contribute will greatly be appreciated more than you can imagine. My appointment is pending me raising the monies needed to help take care of the above mentioned things. If you would like to know more about my illness feel free to reserch Cervical Dystonia. YouTube has videos that provide you with more insight as well. This will give you a glimpse of what my day to day life experience is like. For many of you who know me, my life has changed drastically in ways I can't even begin to describe. That's why I'm doing this fund raiser so that I can try and have some kind of a better quality of life verses what I contend with now. Thank You for your time, donated funds an Love.