Rare Autoimmune Disease CAPS
Donation protected
On October 1, 2016 our perfect miracle was born. Miss Averie Lynn only weighed 2 pounds 10 ounces, as her arrival was 2 months earlier than expected. She was born via emergency cesarean section due to my wife, Michelle’s, severe pre-eclampsia with HELLP syndrome.
Averie was born without complications and has thrived since day 1! She only had to stay in the NICU for 40 days. Michelle, however, was a completely different story. Her blood pressure was sky high and her liver and kidneys were failing. Exactly 1 week after giving birth, Michelle suffered a stroke due to a blood clot that made its way to her brain. 10 days later, another clot found its way to her heart causing a heart attack.
Her team of doctors discovered that Michelle has a rare autoimmune disease called CAPS (Catastrophic Antiphospholid Sydrome), which causes several organ failures within a matter of weeks due to multiple blood clots. There have only been 1,000 reported cases worldwide of CAPS and the mortality rate is 50/50. She beat those odds!
Michelle will have to be on several medications, including blood thinners and immunosuppressants for the rest of her life. Another unfortunate course of action is receiving chemotherapy treatments. The first 2 rounds of chemo were not approved by our insurance at the time, costing us over $20,000 out of our own pocket. This amount is not including the rest of the medical bills for my wife and daughter. Thankfully the insurance we have now does cover her chemo, as she has received 4 more rounds and will need others in the near future.
My wife can no longer work and we had to sell our house last year in order to pay for medical bills. Our savings are gone and we have a child to feed. We have lost all our battles with appeals to our old insurance company.
Michelle and I both, absolutely hate having to ask of this but feel we have no other options. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. Prayers are also greatly needed at this time.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Love and prayers to all!
Much love and God bless,
Austin, Michelle and Averie Drake
Further information: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/antiphospholipid-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20355831
Averie was born without complications and has thrived since day 1! She only had to stay in the NICU for 40 days. Michelle, however, was a completely different story. Her blood pressure was sky high and her liver and kidneys were failing. Exactly 1 week after giving birth, Michelle suffered a stroke due to a blood clot that made its way to her brain. 10 days later, another clot found its way to her heart causing a heart attack.
Her team of doctors discovered that Michelle has a rare autoimmune disease called CAPS (Catastrophic Antiphospholid Sydrome), which causes several organ failures within a matter of weeks due to multiple blood clots. There have only been 1,000 reported cases worldwide of CAPS and the mortality rate is 50/50. She beat those odds!
Michelle will have to be on several medications, including blood thinners and immunosuppressants for the rest of her life. Another unfortunate course of action is receiving chemotherapy treatments. The first 2 rounds of chemo were not approved by our insurance at the time, costing us over $20,000 out of our own pocket. This amount is not including the rest of the medical bills for my wife and daughter. Thankfully the insurance we have now does cover her chemo, as she has received 4 more rounds and will need others in the near future.
My wife can no longer work and we had to sell our house last year in order to pay for medical bills. Our savings are gone and we have a child to feed. We have lost all our battles with appeals to our old insurance company.
Michelle and I both, absolutely hate having to ask of this but feel we have no other options. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. Prayers are also greatly needed at this time.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Love and prayers to all!
Much love and God bless,
Austin, Michelle and Averie Drake
Further information: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/antiphospholipid-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20355831
Organizer
Austin Drake
Organizer
Buckeye, WA
