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This is Aki. A wonderful wife, a nurturing mother, and my amazing sister.
Aki and I have an amazing bond! In fact, though she is married to my brother, I don't really call her my sister-in-law. Aki is my sister. In our 20s we bonded through many a night of food, drinks, and laughter. She was there for my brother and I when both of our grandparents died. My grandparents were my foundation. When they died two months apart, Aki helped ground me. She encouraged me to pick myself up and go back to college to get my bachelors degree. She even helped me pay for college when funds were low and supported my move to New York to pursue my dreams. She is an incredible human being who now needs some extra support herself.
This journey ...
In January 2016 Aki completed her Master's degree in teaching and started a new job as a fifth grade teacher at a charter school. She was thrilled and excited with this new career path and couldn't wait to be working at the same elementary school that her 2 young children attended. She was vibrant and healthy and full of enthusiasm! She loved teaching and felt that she had found her calling. She planned all summer and couldn't wait to start teaching her second school year.
It all started with fatigue.
Soon after the 2016-2017 school year began, fatigue began to creep into her daily life. Aki figured it was all part and parcel to standing in front of the class during the day and long hours of lesson planning and grading papers late into the night. She increased her caffeine intake to stay alert, but found that she was involuntarily falling asleep when she returned home after work. As the school year passed Aki's fatigue was compounded with a low grade fever, dizziness, and fainting. In December of 2016 she fainted and experienced an unfortunate fall where she unknowingly tore the meniscus in her left knee. Aki plowed through the pain by using a cane and a knee brace and continued to teach for four months while she waited to receive an MRI; the prolonged wait-time due to insurance approvals. During this time Aki began to have abdominal pain, disorientation, weight loss, and increased migraines (she had already been a long time sufferer; migraines since she was 20 years old which moved into a chronic migraine condition in 2005). Once the MRI results were in, her doctor recommended that she stay off her feet, start physical therapy, and seriously contemplate knee surgery. She figured that the summer break would be enough time to recover, but by August 2017 her condition had not improved. Aki was still unwell, in chronic pain, and had to step down from her teaching position. The weight loss continued, along with the fatigue, and a full numbness in her left leg and foot which made walking difficult. This was more than just a knee injury, something else was going on.
One hospital visit after another.
Aki went to her primary care physician in September 2017 about her ailments, but she was not taken seriously. She was told it was stress, that she just needed to take it easy, and change her diet. Aki followed her doctor's advice, but that didn't change the way she felt. She woke one morning in January 2018 with excruciating abdominal pain and went to the emergency room. One test lead to another test and after a day in there with no answers, Aki was finally admitted to the hospital. After 3 days in the hospital and lots of tests, they believed that she had a large gallstone stuck in her bile duct and many more stones in her gallbladder. They sent her home with a follow up endoscope in February 2018. The scope revealed a large gallstone trapped in her bile duck. She was sent home with a removal surgery scheduled for March 2018. The gallstone removal surgery was successful, however while they were in there, her doctors and surgeon determined that it would be most beneficial for Aki to have her full gallbladder removed. This surgery was scheduled for April 2018. The gallbladder removal was successful, but the pain and fatigue continued.
Let the testing begin...
Aki approached her neurologist in April 2018 about the increased migraines, fatigue, fainting, and numbness. Aki's neurologist ordered some tests and when those showed nothing. She ordered some more, and when those came up empty, she ordered even more. Over the past year Aki has endured a brain MRI, a neck MRI, a brain MRA, an EEG, a sleep study, a second brain MRI with contrast, a lumbar MRI, a thoracic MRI, and a second sleep study with a latency sleep test. She has also had many different blood tests in attempts to rule out common disorders, autoimmune disorders, connective tissue disorders, and other rare disorders, but all test results have been inconclusive or negative. Aki's health has not improved. She can no longer stay awake throughout the day, she is in chronic pain, and she's lost over 20 pounds; going from an already underweight of 124 lbs. to 102 lbs., on a 5'6" frame, has made her nearly skeletal. Aki is still waiting on test results from her spinal MRIs, her second sleep study, and her recent trip to the hospital wherein 10 vials of blood were taken. Even with those test results in process, she still needs a spinal tap and to see several specialists.
Out of cash and out of credit.
Aki hasn't worked in almost 2 years and her family is really feeling the strain. My brother has a full time job and their family has health insurance, but it doesn't cover everything. They have exhausted their savings and maxed out their credit cards just to stay afloat. Aki still needs a lumbar puncture, that she has been postponing. She still needs to see a hematologist and a neurosurgeon, but has had to postpone those due to the build up of unpaid medical costs. She has also been rationing her pain medication for "really bad days" in order to save money towards those needed visits. Let me say this again: She has been rationing her medication to be able to save money to go to see doctors in hopes of getting a diagnosis.
Medical mystery continues - long term goals.
Aki's long term goals are to find out what is wrong and get proper treatment. Over the past 2.5 years I have watched an energetic, vibrant artist lose her drive, her passion, and her light. Continued monetary support will allow her to pay off her current medical debt and allow her to see as many specialists as she needs to. Reducing her stress and anxiety about outstanding bills will ultimately help her heal. I would love it if she could go to the Mayo Clinic, but she lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and would need to travel to the Arizona location. The Mayo Clinic is also out of her insurance network and she would need to pay for everything: travel, lodging, and doctor's appointments, completely out of pocket.
Making a wish - every little bit will help!
I wish I could support my brother and his family and make all their worries go away. Aki needs immediate help so she can purchase her medications and continue to get medical treatment. Right now, we'd love to focus on getting her out of constant, debilitating pain. Every amount you can donate WILL help. Skipping an indulgence for a day, be it a coffee on the go or a taking a quick flight to Paris for lunch, and sending the money you'd have spent to Aki instead will do SO much to change her day. And her family's day because a healthy Mama makes for a happy home.
Where will the money go?
The first $2,100 raised will go immediately towards medications. Aki's neurologist would like her to try the new migraine medication Aimovig (developed for Chronic Migraine sufferers to enable them to block the pain in order to be present in their lives), but this is not covered by her insurance. Aimovig is a once a month injection that costs $575 per injection. It takes three months of medication to determine whether it is effective ($1,725 total). The other $375 will go towards Aki's regular pain management medications for the same three month period, at $125 per month.
The next $5,965 raised will go directly towards outstanding bills that will be in default at the end of June 2019. Paying this chunk off before more interest is accrued would be highly beneficial to debt reduction.
The additional $1,935 on this campaign will go towards future medical costs like a deposit on her lumbar puncture, visiting specialists, or new medications.
Please share!
I want to see Aki vibrant and healthy again, but I can't do it alone. Please share her story and help us help her to get whole again.
Aki and I have an amazing bond! In fact, though she is married to my brother, I don't really call her my sister-in-law. Aki is my sister. In our 20s we bonded through many a night of food, drinks, and laughter. She was there for my brother and I when both of our grandparents died. My grandparents were my foundation. When they died two months apart, Aki helped ground me. She encouraged me to pick myself up and go back to college to get my bachelors degree. She even helped me pay for college when funds were low and supported my move to New York to pursue my dreams. She is an incredible human being who now needs some extra support herself.
This journey ...
In January 2016 Aki completed her Master's degree in teaching and started a new job as a fifth grade teacher at a charter school. She was thrilled and excited with this new career path and couldn't wait to be working at the same elementary school that her 2 young children attended. She was vibrant and healthy and full of enthusiasm! She loved teaching and felt that she had found her calling. She planned all summer and couldn't wait to start teaching her second school year.
It all started with fatigue.
Soon after the 2016-2017 school year began, fatigue began to creep into her daily life. Aki figured it was all part and parcel to standing in front of the class during the day and long hours of lesson planning and grading papers late into the night. She increased her caffeine intake to stay alert, but found that she was involuntarily falling asleep when she returned home after work. As the school year passed Aki's fatigue was compounded with a low grade fever, dizziness, and fainting. In December of 2016 she fainted and experienced an unfortunate fall where she unknowingly tore the meniscus in her left knee. Aki plowed through the pain by using a cane and a knee brace and continued to teach for four months while she waited to receive an MRI; the prolonged wait-time due to insurance approvals. During this time Aki began to have abdominal pain, disorientation, weight loss, and increased migraines (she had already been a long time sufferer; migraines since she was 20 years old which moved into a chronic migraine condition in 2005). Once the MRI results were in, her doctor recommended that she stay off her feet, start physical therapy, and seriously contemplate knee surgery. She figured that the summer break would be enough time to recover, but by August 2017 her condition had not improved. Aki was still unwell, in chronic pain, and had to step down from her teaching position. The weight loss continued, along with the fatigue, and a full numbness in her left leg and foot which made walking difficult. This was more than just a knee injury, something else was going on.
One hospital visit after another.
Aki went to her primary care physician in September 2017 about her ailments, but she was not taken seriously. She was told it was stress, that she just needed to take it easy, and change her diet. Aki followed her doctor's advice, but that didn't change the way she felt. She woke one morning in January 2018 with excruciating abdominal pain and went to the emergency room. One test lead to another test and after a day in there with no answers, Aki was finally admitted to the hospital. After 3 days in the hospital and lots of tests, they believed that she had a large gallstone stuck in her bile duct and many more stones in her gallbladder. They sent her home with a follow up endoscope in February 2018. The scope revealed a large gallstone trapped in her bile duck. She was sent home with a removal surgery scheduled for March 2018. The gallstone removal surgery was successful, however while they were in there, her doctors and surgeon determined that it would be most beneficial for Aki to have her full gallbladder removed. This surgery was scheduled for April 2018. The gallbladder removal was successful, but the pain and fatigue continued.
Let the testing begin...
Aki approached her neurologist in April 2018 about the increased migraines, fatigue, fainting, and numbness. Aki's neurologist ordered some tests and when those showed nothing. She ordered some more, and when those came up empty, she ordered even more. Over the past year Aki has endured a brain MRI, a neck MRI, a brain MRA, an EEG, a sleep study, a second brain MRI with contrast, a lumbar MRI, a thoracic MRI, and a second sleep study with a latency sleep test. She has also had many different blood tests in attempts to rule out common disorders, autoimmune disorders, connective tissue disorders, and other rare disorders, but all test results have been inconclusive or negative. Aki's health has not improved. She can no longer stay awake throughout the day, she is in chronic pain, and she's lost over 20 pounds; going from an already underweight of 124 lbs. to 102 lbs., on a 5'6" frame, has made her nearly skeletal. Aki is still waiting on test results from her spinal MRIs, her second sleep study, and her recent trip to the hospital wherein 10 vials of blood were taken. Even with those test results in process, she still needs a spinal tap and to see several specialists.
Out of cash and out of credit.
Aki hasn't worked in almost 2 years and her family is really feeling the strain. My brother has a full time job and their family has health insurance, but it doesn't cover everything. They have exhausted their savings and maxed out their credit cards just to stay afloat. Aki still needs a lumbar puncture, that she has been postponing. She still needs to see a hematologist and a neurosurgeon, but has had to postpone those due to the build up of unpaid medical costs. She has also been rationing her pain medication for "really bad days" in order to save money towards those needed visits. Let me say this again: She has been rationing her medication to be able to save money to go to see doctors in hopes of getting a diagnosis.
Medical mystery continues - long term goals.
Aki's long term goals are to find out what is wrong and get proper treatment. Over the past 2.5 years I have watched an energetic, vibrant artist lose her drive, her passion, and her light. Continued monetary support will allow her to pay off her current medical debt and allow her to see as many specialists as she needs to. Reducing her stress and anxiety about outstanding bills will ultimately help her heal. I would love it if she could go to the Mayo Clinic, but she lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and would need to travel to the Arizona location. The Mayo Clinic is also out of her insurance network and she would need to pay for everything: travel, lodging, and doctor's appointments, completely out of pocket.
Making a wish - every little bit will help!
I wish I could support my brother and his family and make all their worries go away. Aki needs immediate help so she can purchase her medications and continue to get medical treatment. Right now, we'd love to focus on getting her out of constant, debilitating pain. Every amount you can donate WILL help. Skipping an indulgence for a day, be it a coffee on the go or a taking a quick flight to Paris for lunch, and sending the money you'd have spent to Aki instead will do SO much to change her day. And her family's day because a healthy Mama makes for a happy home.
Where will the money go?
The first $2,100 raised will go immediately towards medications. Aki's neurologist would like her to try the new migraine medication Aimovig (developed for Chronic Migraine sufferers to enable them to block the pain in order to be present in their lives), but this is not covered by her insurance. Aimovig is a once a month injection that costs $575 per injection. It takes three months of medication to determine whether it is effective ($1,725 total). The other $375 will go towards Aki's regular pain management medications for the same three month period, at $125 per month.
The next $5,965 raised will go directly towards outstanding bills that will be in default at the end of June 2019. Paying this chunk off before more interest is accrued would be highly beneficial to debt reduction.
The additional $1,935 on this campaign will go towards future medical costs like a deposit on her lumbar puncture, visiting specialists, or new medications.
Please share!
I want to see Aki vibrant and healthy again, but I can't do it alone. Please share her story and help us help her to get whole again.