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When I first met Lisa, she was a teenager full of hope and dreams for the future. She was training hard to qualify for the U.S. Olympic swim team. She dreamed of someday of having a fulfilling career, a home and family of her own and enjoying life to the fullest. But her bright future was never to become a reality.
Her physical problems began with a surgery of the left knee when she was 18. Lisa, now 51, has since endured more than 30 operations on her lower back, neck, knees and colon. On two separate occasions while in the hospital Lisa was administered nearly fatal doses of pain medication and never received a cent in compensation. As a result of all these surgeries she lives in a constant state of agony. She has acute, debilitating pain that even an internal morphine pump and heavy-duty pain pills cannot dull. Lisa must carry with her at all times a syringe with the antidote in case of accidental overdose. Now, her future only holds the prospect of more surgeries: total knee replacements, a spinal fusion and the possibility of a colostomy bag. Lisa’s life has become an unbearable nightmare.
While her dream of becoming a wife and mother did come true, she is unable to function as either. Her life has been reduced to days spent in bed, unable to get up or days spent in a Dr.’s office. Lisa feels tremendous guilt and remorse about not being able to care for her child; unable to pick her up and hold her when she's hurt, unable to play outdoors with her and worst of all unable to keep her safe. Once she was so active and athletic and now can hardly walk without a cane or a walker. There is no position that provides relief, not sitting, standing or even laying down. All movement is painful. The pain makes sleeping next to impossible and Lisa is wakeful much of the night leaving her sleep deprived, exhausted, feeling weak and hyper irritable. In addition to her other pain, her nights are torture with colon issues that stem from her subtotal colectomy that left her with uncontrollable bowels breaking out in cold sweats and crying out in pain. Due to the trauma of multiple surgeries Lisa’s bladder doesn’t function without a Neurostimulator (pacemaker).
Lisa can no longer work at any job and her husband Russ, lost his position in the recent recession. Since then he has worked as hard as he could at a series of low paying jobs, no benefits and long hours. None of them paid enough to support the family and he is currently unemployed. Lisa has looked into moving into an apartment but rentals in their area are the same as their mortgage if not more. She and Russ have a beautiful daughter, who is 12. Because of her own diagnoses, she requires intensive therapy, expensive medications and needs a special school for children with learning disabilities. She is overcome with fear that her mother may die and that they are going to lose the only home she has ever known and have to live in a shelter.
Is it any wonder that Lisa is depressed and totally overwhelmed by the astronomical medical bills exceeding $500,000+, exorbitant drug costs (once, a single prescription cost the family $650.00), Dr.’s copays $50.00 per visit, the mortgage payment, car payments, grocery bills...on and on.
Fortunately, Lisa is made of strong stuff and has an abiding faith in God and with a little help from friends like you, she and her family will not have to leave their home.
We are hoping to raise $50,000 to keep Lisa and her family going until Russ is able to find a good job with benefits that will take care of his family without any additional support. We may not be able to take away her pain but we can offer HOPE!
Thank you in advance for anything you can donate!
Claudia Roven
Her physical problems began with a surgery of the left knee when she was 18. Lisa, now 51, has since endured more than 30 operations on her lower back, neck, knees and colon. On two separate occasions while in the hospital Lisa was administered nearly fatal doses of pain medication and never received a cent in compensation. As a result of all these surgeries she lives in a constant state of agony. She has acute, debilitating pain that even an internal morphine pump and heavy-duty pain pills cannot dull. Lisa must carry with her at all times a syringe with the antidote in case of accidental overdose. Now, her future only holds the prospect of more surgeries: total knee replacements, a spinal fusion and the possibility of a colostomy bag. Lisa’s life has become an unbearable nightmare.
While her dream of becoming a wife and mother did come true, she is unable to function as either. Her life has been reduced to days spent in bed, unable to get up or days spent in a Dr.’s office. Lisa feels tremendous guilt and remorse about not being able to care for her child; unable to pick her up and hold her when she's hurt, unable to play outdoors with her and worst of all unable to keep her safe. Once she was so active and athletic and now can hardly walk without a cane or a walker. There is no position that provides relief, not sitting, standing or even laying down. All movement is painful. The pain makes sleeping next to impossible and Lisa is wakeful much of the night leaving her sleep deprived, exhausted, feeling weak and hyper irritable. In addition to her other pain, her nights are torture with colon issues that stem from her subtotal colectomy that left her with uncontrollable bowels breaking out in cold sweats and crying out in pain. Due to the trauma of multiple surgeries Lisa’s bladder doesn’t function without a Neurostimulator (pacemaker).
Lisa can no longer work at any job and her husband Russ, lost his position in the recent recession. Since then he has worked as hard as he could at a series of low paying jobs, no benefits and long hours. None of them paid enough to support the family and he is currently unemployed. Lisa has looked into moving into an apartment but rentals in their area are the same as their mortgage if not more. She and Russ have a beautiful daughter, who is 12. Because of her own diagnoses, she requires intensive therapy, expensive medications and needs a special school for children with learning disabilities. She is overcome with fear that her mother may die and that they are going to lose the only home she has ever known and have to live in a shelter.
Is it any wonder that Lisa is depressed and totally overwhelmed by the astronomical medical bills exceeding $500,000+, exorbitant drug costs (once, a single prescription cost the family $650.00), Dr.’s copays $50.00 per visit, the mortgage payment, car payments, grocery bills...on and on.
Fortunately, Lisa is made of strong stuff and has an abiding faith in God and with a little help from friends like you, she and her family will not have to leave their home.
We are hoping to raise $50,000 to keep Lisa and her family going until Russ is able to find a good job with benefits that will take care of his family without any additional support. We may not be able to take away her pain but we can offer HOPE!
Thank you in advance for anything you can donate!
Claudia Roven