Cindy's Medical and Recovery Fund

As you may know, in 2015 our mom Cindy was diagnosed with a rare bone disease called *Gorhams Disease (also known as vanishing bone disease). She has been fighting against this painful and unpredictable disease like hell ever since. However, the last month has been an exceptionally difficult struggle. She has been rushed to the ER 3 times due to the severe pain, and was just released from having her mouth wired shut. She has fantastic doctors who are collaborating with specialists from around the world, but because there are so few cases of Gorhams disease (especially in adults) there hasn't been enough funding to work toward finding a cure.  All we can do is hope.

The disease started with severe pain and deterioration in her left jaw and has now moved to the right side of her jaw. Her surgeons were left with no choice but to remove her left lower mandible bone and have plans to remove the same bone on the right side of her jaw at the end of the month.  As you can imagine, the pain is extreme and it is nearly impossible for her to speak, eat, and drink. Her doctors plan to reconstruct her jaw by using titanium rods and a bone from her leg to recreate a jawbone. This eight-hour procedure is unprecedented and runs the risk of many other complications.  Another recent development comes from a specialist in Boston,  he has invented a potentially life saving mechanical jaw.  This groundbreaking contraption is not yet FDA approved, but my mom is willing to serve as a test study to further the research for Gorhams disease if her doctors agree that it is a safe path.  Her surgery is scheduled for November 30th with an extended hospital recovery period.

She started her own dog grooming business 25 years ago, and is heartbroken that she’ll be torn from her first passion, working with animals and interacting with clients who she has grown to know and love as much as family. Throughout the last two years she has been an incredible fighter and has sustained an amazing attitude, and luckily she was still able to work. However, with the upcoming surgery and lengthy recovery time she is going to be unable to do any of those things for quite some time, resulting in no income. Our father's job does not offer paid time off, so we are facing significant financial strain.  
 
If you have a moment and are so inclined, here are some ways you can help:

· If you are capable, please consider donating to her case.  All funds will go towards immediate hospital expenses associated with Cindy’s surgery and recovery.  Every little bit helps, any monetary financial donation will be deeply appreciated.

· She loves to hear from friends and family. If you are unable to donate, we understand. We would be equally grateful if you can spend a few moments to write a note of encouragement or a story of how she has affected your life. We are certain that hearing from loved ones will help keep her spirits up, and we cannot underestimate the power of prayers, thoughts and kind words.

· Cindy's address is: 311 West Lawrence Effingham, IL 62401
· Cindy's email address is: [E-Mail ausgeblendet]

Thank you for you in advance for your generosity and for taking the time to read this message. Feel free to share this with anyone who has known and loved Cindy. Please continue to keep Cindy in your prayers.



*(GOR-amz) disease is a very rare skeletal condition of uncertain etiology, characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of distended, thin-walled vascular or lymphatic channels within bone, which leads to resorption and replacement of bone with angiomas and/or fibrosis.1, 2 Because of the loss of the affected bone, the condition has been referred to as disappearing bone disease, vanishing bone disease, and massive osteolysis. In medical terminology osteolysis means: bone (osteo) breaking down or destruction (lysis).)