Kelsey Gibson Medical Fund
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Hi! My name is Catherine Ingle and I have chosen to step in to help this very deserving couple that needs and deserves your help. Please take a moment to read through, follow your heart and help by sharing this campaign with others.
Some of you might know Kelsey from working with or going to school with her but because she is such a private person that presents a facade of strength and toughness, you probably don’t really “know” her…
Here's a brief summary of the past year that our dear friend Kelsey and her husband Chris have gone through since Kelsey first become sick.
October and November 2014: Kelsey was home and bed-ridden with severe pneumonia which included multiple urgent care visits, ambulance transports and three hospital stays.
December 2014: Kelsey was consumed by extreme fatigue, respiratory difficulties, skin blistering and rashes, bloody noses and widespread pain and had to be treated for C-diff brought on by heavy antibiotics from pneumonia treatment.
January 2015: Kelsey had to have surgery to remove trapezium from left hand and reconstruct the area with a tendon harvested from her forearm due to zero cartilage at that site as well as having to be treated again for C-diff because of antibiotics required after surgery.
February 2015: Kelsey was still suffering with respiratory problems, fatigue, skin issues. Her surgical cast was removed but there were complications.
March 2015: Kelsey’s left hand had to be re-casted due to complications at the surgery site and she had to be treated for C-diff again because of spores releasing and the bacteria reactivating.
April and May 2015: Kelsey was still suffering with respiratory problems, fatigue, skin issues that could not be explained as well as starting rehab for left hand. Toward the end of May, they learned that the mystery symptoms and pneumonia were/are caused by mold exposure from a long-term leak in their bedroom roof and growth between the walls.
June 2015: Kelsey was going through physical therapy for her hand and slowly recovering from illnesses associated with mold exposure when she began experiencing severe burning and pain starting in her feet and legs, then moving to her hands and arms.
July 2015: Kelsey is referred to a neurologist who diagnosed her with severe neuropathy due to vitamin B-6 toxicity leaving her bed-ridden 99% of every day due to pain and is forced to use a walker to help her walk the short distance to the bathroom or kitchen.
August 2015: Kelsey developed a ganglion cyst in her left hand at the exact site of her tendon graft surgery back in January. Due to the multiple and puzzling illnesses and physical symptoms, Kelsey is referred to a geneticist in hopes to glean insight to why her body is in such a fight.
September 2015: Kelsey is diagnosed with the genetic disorder Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome type II and type III. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of disorders that affect connective tissues, which are tissues that support the skin, bones, blood vessels, and other organs. Defects in connective tissues cause the signs and symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which vary from mildly loose joints to life-threatening complications. Things associated with EDS that Kelsey has already been through and have dealt with for a lifetime but was not connected until just now:
· Age 5 broken arm that had to be reset twice because of abnormal healing
· Age 15 being her palate had to be expanded through a manual palatal expander and had to have all four bicuspids removed to relieve overcrowding
· Age 21 diagnosed with scoliosis
· Age 28 she underwent the first of two surgeries to correct her -8.75, 20-875 vision only to have complications that arose after an additional surgery in 2006 and has left her with uncorrectable, permanent irregular astigmatism and severe visual impairment in her left eye
· 2011 she lost peristalsis in the beginning of her small intestine that created an over absorption of food contents resulting in her weight skyrocketing to 230 lbs. when consuming less than 500 calories per day, constant constipation and her body becoming toxic and losing her hair. Kelsey had to have 3.5 feet of her intestines and a portion of her stomach removed to correct this condition.
· 2006 after multiple trips to the ER because of rapid, irregular heartbeats, Kelsey is tested and diagnosed with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
· 2005 and 2015 Kelsey had surgeries to reconstruct her thumb joint (CMC) that had no cartilage which consisted of taking a part of her forearm tendon to graft in that place. Both surgeries were met with unexplainable complications and secondary surgeries and intensive therapies.
September 1, 2015: Due to the diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Kelsey’s orthopedic surgeon is unable to remove the cyst unless it becomes life-threatening. They have re-braced the hand and her immediate and future prognosis is grim and Kelsey was instructed to "baby" and brace her hands at all times to preserve their use for as long as possible.
September 19, 2015: Kelsey received her results of the DEXA scan ordered by genetics because she has lost 2” of her height in 15 years, 1” in the past 5 years. The results from the DEXA scan which measures bone density in which they use a "T-Score" from +4 = Extremely high bone density/hard bones to -4 = Extremely low bone density/weak, fragile bones (high risk of fracture). Kelsey’s score was -3.8 = Extreme osteoporosis, low bone density, high risk of fractures.
Genetics has instructed Kelsey to get an echocardiograph immediately to check the size of her aorta because in 2006 it was 36mm which is at the most upper limit of normal because there are signs that this may have increased resulting in leaking heart valves and most likely the cause of her recent recurring dizzy spells and blood pressure fluctuating from 107/60 to 158/99 without provocation. Her appointment is set for October 15, 2015.
During all of these things up until October 2014, Kelsey has worked and gone to school to become a nurse. Even though she missed months of school, her instructors allowed Kelsey to study and test from home and much to her surprise passed all her classes and didn't lose any of her grants or scholarships. But now, because of the neuropathy, EDS, extreme osteoporosis, mobility difficulties and heavy pain medications it was impossible for her to continue her schooling or return to work and she has had to file for long term SSI disability because her short-term State disability is coming to an end.
Kelsey has had many emergency room visits, doctors and specialists appointments and too many medications and tests to count and have many more to come. Even though Kelsey and Chris are very grateful they have medical insurance, their copays and shared-costs are mounting and are currently buried with over $7,000 in medical costs and that amount grows daily.
Chris and Kelsey were saving every possible penny in order to buy a home of their own but that fund and all other liquid assets have been drained to cover Kelsey’s medical bills and her loss of income. Since Kelsey has been off work for so long, Chris has had to transfer to a higher volume store an hour away and work 10-12 hour days, 6 days a week just to be able to provide them with a home. And with no family near them, this also means Kelsey is left alone during the day while Chris is traveling to work and working.
For more information, please feel free to contact me personally and I’ll do my best to answer your questions or point you in the right direction.
Sincere thanks and appreciation,
Catherine Ingle
Some of you might know Kelsey from working with or going to school with her but because she is such a private person that presents a facade of strength and toughness, you probably don’t really “know” her…
Here's a brief summary of the past year that our dear friend Kelsey and her husband Chris have gone through since Kelsey first become sick.
October and November 2014: Kelsey was home and bed-ridden with severe pneumonia which included multiple urgent care visits, ambulance transports and three hospital stays.
December 2014: Kelsey was consumed by extreme fatigue, respiratory difficulties, skin blistering and rashes, bloody noses and widespread pain and had to be treated for C-diff brought on by heavy antibiotics from pneumonia treatment.
January 2015: Kelsey had to have surgery to remove trapezium from left hand and reconstruct the area with a tendon harvested from her forearm due to zero cartilage at that site as well as having to be treated again for C-diff because of antibiotics required after surgery.
February 2015: Kelsey was still suffering with respiratory problems, fatigue, skin issues. Her surgical cast was removed but there were complications.
March 2015: Kelsey’s left hand had to be re-casted due to complications at the surgery site and she had to be treated for C-diff again because of spores releasing and the bacteria reactivating.
April and May 2015: Kelsey was still suffering with respiratory problems, fatigue, skin issues that could not be explained as well as starting rehab for left hand. Toward the end of May, they learned that the mystery symptoms and pneumonia were/are caused by mold exposure from a long-term leak in their bedroom roof and growth between the walls.
June 2015: Kelsey was going through physical therapy for her hand and slowly recovering from illnesses associated with mold exposure when she began experiencing severe burning and pain starting in her feet and legs, then moving to her hands and arms.
July 2015: Kelsey is referred to a neurologist who diagnosed her with severe neuropathy due to vitamin B-6 toxicity leaving her bed-ridden 99% of every day due to pain and is forced to use a walker to help her walk the short distance to the bathroom or kitchen.
August 2015: Kelsey developed a ganglion cyst in her left hand at the exact site of her tendon graft surgery back in January. Due to the multiple and puzzling illnesses and physical symptoms, Kelsey is referred to a geneticist in hopes to glean insight to why her body is in such a fight.
September 2015: Kelsey is diagnosed with the genetic disorder Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome type II and type III. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of disorders that affect connective tissues, which are tissues that support the skin, bones, blood vessels, and other organs. Defects in connective tissues cause the signs and symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which vary from mildly loose joints to life-threatening complications. Things associated with EDS that Kelsey has already been through and have dealt with for a lifetime but was not connected until just now:
· Age 5 broken arm that had to be reset twice because of abnormal healing
· Age 15 being her palate had to be expanded through a manual palatal expander and had to have all four bicuspids removed to relieve overcrowding
· Age 21 diagnosed with scoliosis
· Age 28 she underwent the first of two surgeries to correct her -8.75, 20-875 vision only to have complications that arose after an additional surgery in 2006 and has left her with uncorrectable, permanent irregular astigmatism and severe visual impairment in her left eye
· 2011 she lost peristalsis in the beginning of her small intestine that created an over absorption of food contents resulting in her weight skyrocketing to 230 lbs. when consuming less than 500 calories per day, constant constipation and her body becoming toxic and losing her hair. Kelsey had to have 3.5 feet of her intestines and a portion of her stomach removed to correct this condition.
· 2006 after multiple trips to the ER because of rapid, irregular heartbeats, Kelsey is tested and diagnosed with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
· 2005 and 2015 Kelsey had surgeries to reconstruct her thumb joint (CMC) that had no cartilage which consisted of taking a part of her forearm tendon to graft in that place. Both surgeries were met with unexplainable complications and secondary surgeries and intensive therapies.
September 1, 2015: Due to the diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Kelsey’s orthopedic surgeon is unable to remove the cyst unless it becomes life-threatening. They have re-braced the hand and her immediate and future prognosis is grim and Kelsey was instructed to "baby" and brace her hands at all times to preserve their use for as long as possible.
September 19, 2015: Kelsey received her results of the DEXA scan ordered by genetics because she has lost 2” of her height in 15 years, 1” in the past 5 years. The results from the DEXA scan which measures bone density in which they use a "T-Score" from +4 = Extremely high bone density/hard bones to -4 = Extremely low bone density/weak, fragile bones (high risk of fracture). Kelsey’s score was -3.8 = Extreme osteoporosis, low bone density, high risk of fractures.
Genetics has instructed Kelsey to get an echocardiograph immediately to check the size of her aorta because in 2006 it was 36mm which is at the most upper limit of normal because there are signs that this may have increased resulting in leaking heart valves and most likely the cause of her recent recurring dizzy spells and blood pressure fluctuating from 107/60 to 158/99 without provocation. Her appointment is set for October 15, 2015.
During all of these things up until October 2014, Kelsey has worked and gone to school to become a nurse. Even though she missed months of school, her instructors allowed Kelsey to study and test from home and much to her surprise passed all her classes and didn't lose any of her grants or scholarships. But now, because of the neuropathy, EDS, extreme osteoporosis, mobility difficulties and heavy pain medications it was impossible for her to continue her schooling or return to work and she has had to file for long term SSI disability because her short-term State disability is coming to an end.
Kelsey has had many emergency room visits, doctors and specialists appointments and too many medications and tests to count and have many more to come. Even though Kelsey and Chris are very grateful they have medical insurance, their copays and shared-costs are mounting and are currently buried with over $7,000 in medical costs and that amount grows daily.
Chris and Kelsey were saving every possible penny in order to buy a home of their own but that fund and all other liquid assets have been drained to cover Kelsey’s medical bills and her loss of income. Since Kelsey has been off work for so long, Chris has had to transfer to a higher volume store an hour away and work 10-12 hour days, 6 days a week just to be able to provide them with a home. And with no family near them, this also means Kelsey is left alone during the day while Chris is traveling to work and working.
For more information, please feel free to contact me personally and I’ll do my best to answer your questions or point you in the right direction.
Sincere thanks and appreciation,
Catherine Ingle
Organizer and beneficiary
Catherine Ingle
Organizer
Escondido, CA
Kelsey Gibson
Beneficiary