Our Friend Gypsi Needs Your Help
On the day after Thanksgiving of 2013, Gypsi's life changed forever.
She developed severe pancreatitis. At first the doctors thought it was a fluke.
Two weeks later she developed reactive hepatitis (not viral). That is when she was diagnosed with a rare disorder called S.O.D., Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction.
For more information than you ever wanted to know abut S.O.D, hit the link. It's a basic understanding of the disease, but it is acute and there is no cure:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphincter_of_Oddi_dysfunction
Since then Gypsi has spent over 50 days in the hospital, and had two life threatening procedures to attempt to relieve some of the pain. She developed dehydration, anemia and malnutrition due to the inability to eat and drink daily. This has led to the implanting of a port through which she gets 3 liters a day of fluids and electrolytes and a J-feeding tube, through which she gets nutrition and medications. She is hooked up to this 12 hour a day. She is easily fatigued and requires a Personal Care Attendant.
Gypsi is unable to work, but frustratingly enough, also hasn't qualified for Social Security Disability. This has led to getting more than $11,000 dollars behind in her mortgage, $2000 behind in medical bills, $400 behind in vet bills and $5000 behind in other miscellaneous bills.
Adjusting to this new normal has been more than challenging emotionally; having always been the primary provider for her family, having one child left at home and worrying about losing her house.
