Sarah's Lymphatic Malformations
Donation protected
I am pleading for help for my cousins/sisters/friends, Kathy and Sarah Halley in this Gofundme.com account.
Our dear Sarah was born with Lymphatic Malformations over thirty-four years ago. Suffering from this condition, Sarah has only known pain. Since Sarah was 9months old, she has endured more than 41 surgeries, blindness to her right eye, blockage of one side of her sinus cavity and massive doses of steroids
When I was receiving accolades for my beautiful new babies, Sarah’s mother, Kathy, would receive glares and endured being accosted for “allowing her baby fall or abusing” her sweet baby.
She sought medical help immediately only to feel abandoned and hopeless as her condition baffled the doctors. At the time, the doctors did not have the diagnosis of “Lymphatic Malformations”. The doctors did know that it was malformation of blood vessels that would be difficult and dangerous to treat. Most doctors turned them away without answers, without hope but would leave them with a bill. It did not take long before the family had accrued thousands in medical bills though Kathy kept these things close to her heart, not to grumble or complain to others, yet she would be the first with a meal for others if they were sick or needed encouragement.
Finally Kathy found a doctor at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, that was knowledgeable about Vascular Malformations but Sarah’s case and condition was too involved for even him. He attempted to remove trouble areas of the tumor, only to see them fill back up with tissue and fluid. This physician did wonders for her cosmetically and tried keep the tumor as small as he could, yet Sarah has still continuously battled with this illness. Sarah is currently being treated at UAMS. She has been diagnosed with a secondary conditioned called Trigeminal Neuralgia, finally putting a name to the pain she has suffered with since birth.
Trigeminal Neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the Trigeminal nerve in the face. It has been called the “suicide disease” because patients who suffer from the condition would rather take their own lives than suffer from the intolerable pain. Over the past year, Sarah has had several surgical procedures to try and help her be able to cope with the pain. The first was a failed craniotomy that introduced seizures to her list of medical conditions! In December, 2014, Sarah had a nerve stimulator placed in her chest area which is wired through her neck into her head. Even though this procedure has decreased some of the pain, her battle is far from over.
To all those who know and love Sarah, it is so hard to see her suffering. This child always presents a positive and grateful attitude, noting how others she has met on her journey have it worse than she does (which has to be one of the most remarkable things about this beautiful woman-always thinking of others!) She is beyond thankful for her family, friends, and the prayers that they lift up on her behalf. She is amazing and so beautiful!!! She is one of those incredible people that you go to “minister” to and you leave “blessed”! It has become increasingly difficult for Sarah to remain the optimistic, cheerful person we know.
I am guilty of reassuring Sarah that things will get better, taking her blessing and cheerfulness and refusing to recognize the REAL picture. I realize now that behind that “for company” face I see when I am visiting, Sarah is truly in pain but doesn’t want to “bother “me or anyone else with her true suffering. Both Sarah and Kathy cry “in the quiet, in the shadows” so that we won’t see their pain. And they are successful, because I have turned my head, not seeing the FULL REAL picture but not anymore! Not only are they enduring the emotional and physical pain, they are enduring the social pain as well. That I/WE can help with.
That is the real reason for the GoFundMe.com request. Sarah has at least $250,000.00 in Medical debt alone; including one company that is threatening to take her to court, not to mention day to day costs of living. Again those of us, who know Sarah, have watched her try to keep job after job only to lose them due to her medical condition. For all of Sarah’s life, Kathy and Sarah have filled out countless papers, looking to try for some or any governmental help, yet were always denied. Having no definitive diagnosis, there was not a category for her disability, thus no governmental agencies could help.
Finally, in April 2011, Sarah was approved for disability, receiving $900/month. This doesn’t cover rent and utilities, let alone, her co-pays for doctor visits, surgeries, hospital stays, and prescription medications. Just one of her medications is $200/month and that is one of many. She also needs a new car. She drives a 1998 Toyota with 257,000 miles on it and is falling apart, but is unlikely to manage a car loan with such a meager income.
We can’t do anything about Sarah’s physical journey with Lymphatic Malformations and Trigeminal Neuropathy, but we can help socially. So I am asking for your support for Sarah. You can pledge a monthly amount, or a one-time gift, any size that God leads you to. Gofundme.com will get 5% of what you send, but the rest will go to Sarah, through her email.
While my prayer is and still will be a complete eradication of her pain and these seizures, I know that this is all God’s plan for Sarah and her family. Like Job in the Scriptures, I have told Kathy that I would understand if she would rise up and CURSE GOD!! But instead both Kathy and Sarah rebuke me saying “GOD IS GOOD”.
Our dear Sarah was born with Lymphatic Malformations over thirty-four years ago. Suffering from this condition, Sarah has only known pain. Since Sarah was 9months old, she has endured more than 41 surgeries, blindness to her right eye, blockage of one side of her sinus cavity and massive doses of steroids
When I was receiving accolades for my beautiful new babies, Sarah’s mother, Kathy, would receive glares and endured being accosted for “allowing her baby fall or abusing” her sweet baby.
She sought medical help immediately only to feel abandoned and hopeless as her condition baffled the doctors. At the time, the doctors did not have the diagnosis of “Lymphatic Malformations”. The doctors did know that it was malformation of blood vessels that would be difficult and dangerous to treat. Most doctors turned them away without answers, without hope but would leave them with a bill. It did not take long before the family had accrued thousands in medical bills though Kathy kept these things close to her heart, not to grumble or complain to others, yet she would be the first with a meal for others if they were sick or needed encouragement.
Finally Kathy found a doctor at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, that was knowledgeable about Vascular Malformations but Sarah’s case and condition was too involved for even him. He attempted to remove trouble areas of the tumor, only to see them fill back up with tissue and fluid. This physician did wonders for her cosmetically and tried keep the tumor as small as he could, yet Sarah has still continuously battled with this illness. Sarah is currently being treated at UAMS. She has been diagnosed with a secondary conditioned called Trigeminal Neuralgia, finally putting a name to the pain she has suffered with since birth.
Trigeminal Neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the Trigeminal nerve in the face. It has been called the “suicide disease” because patients who suffer from the condition would rather take their own lives than suffer from the intolerable pain. Over the past year, Sarah has had several surgical procedures to try and help her be able to cope with the pain. The first was a failed craniotomy that introduced seizures to her list of medical conditions! In December, 2014, Sarah had a nerve stimulator placed in her chest area which is wired through her neck into her head. Even though this procedure has decreased some of the pain, her battle is far from over.
To all those who know and love Sarah, it is so hard to see her suffering. This child always presents a positive and grateful attitude, noting how others she has met on her journey have it worse than she does (which has to be one of the most remarkable things about this beautiful woman-always thinking of others!) She is beyond thankful for her family, friends, and the prayers that they lift up on her behalf. She is amazing and so beautiful!!! She is one of those incredible people that you go to “minister” to and you leave “blessed”! It has become increasingly difficult for Sarah to remain the optimistic, cheerful person we know.
I am guilty of reassuring Sarah that things will get better, taking her blessing and cheerfulness and refusing to recognize the REAL picture. I realize now that behind that “for company” face I see when I am visiting, Sarah is truly in pain but doesn’t want to “bother “me or anyone else with her true suffering. Both Sarah and Kathy cry “in the quiet, in the shadows” so that we won’t see their pain. And they are successful, because I have turned my head, not seeing the FULL REAL picture but not anymore! Not only are they enduring the emotional and physical pain, they are enduring the social pain as well. That I/WE can help with.
That is the real reason for the GoFundMe.com request. Sarah has at least $250,000.00 in Medical debt alone; including one company that is threatening to take her to court, not to mention day to day costs of living. Again those of us, who know Sarah, have watched her try to keep job after job only to lose them due to her medical condition. For all of Sarah’s life, Kathy and Sarah have filled out countless papers, looking to try for some or any governmental help, yet were always denied. Having no definitive diagnosis, there was not a category for her disability, thus no governmental agencies could help.
Finally, in April 2011, Sarah was approved for disability, receiving $900/month. This doesn’t cover rent and utilities, let alone, her co-pays for doctor visits, surgeries, hospital stays, and prescription medications. Just one of her medications is $200/month and that is one of many. She also needs a new car. She drives a 1998 Toyota with 257,000 miles on it and is falling apart, but is unlikely to manage a car loan with such a meager income.
We can’t do anything about Sarah’s physical journey with Lymphatic Malformations and Trigeminal Neuropathy, but we can help socially. So I am asking for your support for Sarah. You can pledge a monthly amount, or a one-time gift, any size that God leads you to. Gofundme.com will get 5% of what you send, but the rest will go to Sarah, through her email.
While my prayer is and still will be a complete eradication of her pain and these seizures, I know that this is all God’s plan for Sarah and her family. Like Job in the Scriptures, I have told Kathy that I would understand if she would rise up and CURSE GOD!! But instead both Kathy and Sarah rebuke me saying “GOD IS GOOD”.
Organizer
Sarah Elizabeth Halley
Organizer
North Little Rock, AR
