My daughter,  Nancy Bohlman has been struggling with her health for most of her life.  Every year over the last ten years my husband (Edwin) and I (Jean)

have watched her health decline.  It has been a very slow process of seeing specialists after specialists and slowly receiving diagnosis and starting treatments.  8 years ago Nancy received her first major diagnosis of Systemic  Lupus which started her long term treatment of Prednisone.  The sun is a Lupus patients biggest enemy.  Being a lover of the outdoors she had/has to cover her body in hats, gloves,  special clothing to block the sun.  Nancy loved hiking in the hills, riding her horse and gardening.  Each year she has needed more and more rest.  Both Systemic Lupus and long term use of steroids have taken its toll on Nancy's body.  The steroids have damaged her veins making blood draws and IV's very difficult and painful.  In December 2014  Nancy underwent surgery to install a port. Lupus is effecting Nancy's skin, (causes lesions in her mouth, up her nose, her ears and the rest of her body.  All of her joints are affected and continue to get worse.  Systemic Lupus cn effect every organ.  She suffers from migraines, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, weakness.   The most frightening diagnosis came in March 2015.  She was diagnosed with Heart Failure.  She is on oxygen 24/7 indefinitely.   Even though the use of oxygen is helping Nancy get outside and walk and she is getting stronger she is in need of multiple surgeries in order slow down the progression of her hearts failure.  Without the surgeries she will not be with us much longer. 
Nancy's Cardiologist, Primary Care Doctor and Surgeon agree that she needs to have surgery on her windpipe inserting a Tracheostromy  first.  (A surgically created hole through the front of your neck and into your windpipe (trachea)  a tracheostromy provides an air passage to help you breathe when the usual route for breathing is somehow obstructed or impaired)
After this surgery Nancy will remain in the hospital on IVs while the surgical site heals.  She will be fitted with a valve in her windpipe to talk through.  She will need many therapy sessions to teach her how to talk, eat, swallow, clean the hole in her windpipe.  She will still be on oxygen but, it will be through her tracheostromy.   The doctors anticipate leaving the tracheostromy in place for one to two years.  The doctors agree this procedure will help get more oxygen to her failing heart.  They feel the odds of Nancy surviving the additional surgeries without a tracheostromy in place is very low.  They do not think they will be able to take her off the ventilator without a tracheostromy in place.  If successful the three surgeries should start healing her heart or at the least keep her heart from continuing to fail at a rapid rate.
For the past year and a half Nancy has been receiving monthly Benlysta infusions which are helping her Lupus.  The infusions are helping decrease her joint pain and swelling and has stopped her fingers from twisting any more.   The infusions  are controlling her skin lesions .
Nancy is treated by ten specialists and Dr appointments every week in Billings and sometimes twice a week.  These upcoming surgeries , plus therapy sessions will be a lot more trips to Billings and more expenses.
Nancy's insurance is refusing to pay for the most critically needed and most expensive surgery. And will not pay for all of the tracheostromy.  Her cardiologists, pulmonary Dr., Primary Care Dr , Neurosurgeon , Rheumatologist, and Surgeon have all written letters stating that these surgeries are medically necessary in order to improve, and prolong my life.  Both Nancy and her surgeon have asked the hospital for financial assistance or a reduced rate comparable to ones given to insurance companies.  All options have been explored with no help available. 
A few of Nancy's diagnosis are:  Heart Failure, Metabolic Syndrome X, SLE, RA, toxic multi modular goiter, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, IBS, Herniated discs, pinched nerves, migraines, chronic nausea and vomiting, chronic fatigue syndrome, exhaustion, Raynauds, Adrenal Insufficiency, Sjorns, Syca Syndrome, hypoglycemia,  post hyperthyroidism, pre diabetic, GERD,  IBS, cervical radioulopathy, pinched nerves in back.
We don't know how expensive this is going to be, but we have to try to raise money for these medical expenses.  We pray that we will be able to make it possible for Nancy to have these surgeries and see her body start recovering. It would be wonderful to see Nancy well enough to enjoy life again.

Nancy dreams of the days when she can ride a horse again.  After these surgeries Nancy should find it easier to breath and move more which help her attain here weight loss goal too.