Hey everyone my name is Shanna, I'm here to ask you for help to fundraise for my sister Breanne (Sack) Sikorski who needs a life-changing surgery.

A long story short, in the last 3 YEARS, Bre was finally diagnosed with not only one but two very Rare health conditions that are intertwined, after 15+ years of unexplained symptoms. She has been experiencing continual increasing pain in her back/ribs/abdomen, a popping sensation in her ribs, eating issues, abdominal issues, and weight loss.

At the age of 27, Bre found out she was born with a rare genetic connective tissue disorder, called Marfans syndrome, which subsequently caused the issues with her ribs over the years. After further investigation, she was also diagnosed with Slipped rib syndrome (SRS) which is a painful disorder caused when 1 or more of the 8th-10th ribs become abnormally mobile. There's no easy explanation for this as it is such a rare condition. The best way SRS has been explained to me is it starts with irritation in the nerves surrounding the “false” ribs (8th-10th ribs) due to movement, which then leads to constant pain and pressure on organs/tissue inside those areas, along with certain movements cause stabbing sensations into her upper rib cage.

There is a lack of acknowledgement of this condition in the medical field which has made it extremely hard to get proper treatment even after she was diagnosed.

Fast forward to March 2022; she underwent experimental surgery on her left side in Saskatoon, SK. Unfortunately, after the surgery, she didn't get any relief and continued to experience daily debilitating pain. In mid-May she got a lead to get in touch with a doctor in the states, who happens to be the leading SRS specialist and was lucky enough to get an in-person appointment set in September. She paid for her flights and accommodations to West Virginia, out of pocket just in the pure hopes of getting a small dose of help. Dr. Hansen, not only confirm that her surgery was not successful but was able to identify all the ribs involved, and most importantly a solution.

Dr.Hansen identified her as a very complex case with multiple slipped ribs on both sides along with elongated 11 and 12th ribs. She will need major reconstructive surgery on both sides using sutures, bioabsorbable plates, and cartilage grafts as spacers in between the ribs, and her 11/12 ribs will need to be partially resected (removed). This is a 2 part surgery, doing the left side and then the right side approximately 3-6 months after. Her first surgery is scheduled for February 22nd this year.

This surgery is needed for more than just her pain, it's disheartening to watch her struggle on an everyday basis. She has been unable to work her job as a nurse for almost 2 years. Normal daily tasks like picking up her now 3-year-old son, cleaning the house, driving, sitting upright, extreme difficulty sleeping, getting groceries, or even sometimes just breathing has become debilitating. The cover photo was hand drawn by Bre a year ago to illustrate how badly it affects her life and debilitates her to the core. I am hopeful this can help get her life back or at least some kind of normalcy in her life.

We recently got the phone call after a lengthy process and decision, that Sask Health agreed no one within Canada can help Bre's rare SRS condition. So with that being said they are going to pay for her surgery, but they do not cover travel expenses or accommodations. Bre hasn't been able to work for almost 2 years due to the conditions worsening and the constant debilitating pain. The goal of this fundraiser is to raise enough money to help Bre with the travel expenses and the accommodations to West Virginia as she will have to stay there 1-week post-surgery. Any amount would be helpful. We gratefully thank anyone who can donate or share this.