Brandi- Health and travel to Mayo

Most of you don’t know that my sister Brandi Stemple has been going through major health problems since last fall.  She has been very private about this, as it is a very scary situation not knowing what is wrong, so she withdrew from herself and everyone.   She has not been able to work since last fall and was seeing Doctor after Doctor in Northwest Arkansas and getting no answers.  There are many days where she cannot get out of bed.   She has been having weakness, fatigue, shakiness, memory lapses, fainting spells and more. If you know my sister she usually goes about 80-100mph a day, but has now gone to about 10mph or less.

 It all started in October of 2017, she passed out and was admitted to the Hospital for 4 days. They were shocked she was not dead or comatose because of her dangerous blood levels and blood pressure.  She was discharged with an adrenal insufficiency, a cyst/tumor, pituitary and thyroid glands were not functioning properly and her steroid and hormone levels were all well out of range.  They suggested she get further testing by a local endocrinologist where it was confirmed a definite cyst on her left adrenal gland that suggested is possibly malignant, unidentifiable spots on her spleen, and pituitary gland that is definitely not functioning properly.   Numerous lab’s and testing here in NWA, but no answers other than come back in a few months and we will run more tests and compare images and lab.  On top of all this, they also found a hernia and wanted to operate and remove the hernia in her abdomen.  I was immediately not for them performing surgery  not knowing what  is going on inside her body.   

 I have always said you cannot rely on Doctors that are not out for your best interest, so you have to go find the ones that do!  You have to take your health into your own hands!  I talked to my sister and told her  we are getting on a plane and going to Mayo in Rochester, MN and that is just what we did a couple weeks ago.    MAYO is where we found a group of Doctors that do care and wants to find out what is wrong.   She has already made 2 trips to Mayo and went through several test’s and Lab work.  They told her to cancel her hernia surgery for now.  She has several more appointments scheduled over the next few months.  They really give you a full work out!  They are doing test’s we have never heard of and the Doctors all work together!  What an amazing place!  I know that so many people care about Brandi that I wanted to set this up in hopes that some of us can give her some support financially so she doesn't have another burden on her.   The expense even with insurance is crazy and then to have travel, and have lodging and meal expensives get very expensive when you have to stay weeks at a time and can't work.  She does not know that I am doing this, but I know the hardships she is going through with not being able to work and having to make so many trips to Minnesota.    I feel very positive that Mayo will find a diagnosis and treat her.