Help Hanna Heal

In February 2012, my daughter, Hanna, was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, a chronic disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon and, if unresponsive to treatment, is essentially incurable without major surgery. Her symptoms make her daily life a continual struggle and include persistent abdominal pain & cramping, bleeding, diarrhea, anemia, exhaustion, fever, severe weight loss, and the constant, desperate need to be close to a bathroom.  Yep . . . it's been a pretty shitty diagnosis :-)

For the past 5 1/2 years, I've watched, with an aching heart, this fiercely determined daughter of mine desperately attempt to heal herself by trying a multitude of treatments including: the standard UC drugs, steroids, biologics, immunomodulators, nicotine patches, special diets, parasite treatments, ozone therapy, Chinese herbs, acupuncture, hcg injections, fecal microbiata transplants, hypnotherapy, and even sessions with a medical intuitive. Through all of this, she never lost hope. And, in spite of her suffering she's grown in ways she never imagined.

BUT-- nothing has worked to keep the disease under control. Wanting her health and life back, she has decided to opt for surgery.

On September 19, at Providence Hospital in Portland, she'll undergo a colectomy (removal of her colon) the first in a two-part surgery over the course of 4 months.

With this surgery, there is a high risk for abdominal scar tissue which can later cause bowel obstruction and/or make conception and pregnancy extremely difficult. A relatively new technique, Clear Passage Physical
Therapy, has been successful at breaking down the scar tissue and mimimizing adhesions so common with this kind of surgery. It is Hanna's heartfelt wish to be a mother one day.

Although Hanna's health insurance will cover most of the first surgery, it will not cover pre/post infusions or post-op physical therapy. It is also uncertain what her new policy (most likely to have a higher deductible & premiums) will cover in 2018.

In addition, while going through the long recovery, both Hanna and her husband, Eric, will lose quite a bit of income from not being able to work. Neither of them have jobs that provide sick or family leave. I hate to see this loss of income add stress to their lives while she is trying so hard to heal.
I am reaching out to family and friends who love and appreciate  Hanna to help make this recovery as successful as possible. Any contribution you can make will help Hanna heal and be deeply, deeply appreciated.

Thank you with all my heart!

Fran (Hanna's mom)

**Listen to NPR interview with Hanna about her illness
(start at minute 16:55, she speaks for 13 minutes)