Brice and Rachel Vierkandt

Hi, my name is Anna Byers. I am Rachel's sister and Brice's sister in law.

I am making this Go Fund Me account on behalf of Rachel & Brice's family to help with medical expenses and household bills.

In December of 2021 Brice had Covid-19, with this he had vomiting and weight loss. The daily vomiting and weight loss lasted several months.

Once it started to finally let up he went on to get Covid-19 again in April 2022. This started the severe vomiting and weight loss all over again.

Over the summer of 2022 he had doctor appointments and tried various medications, mostly to help with the significant anxiety and depression he was experiencing from being so sick all the time.

Then in October of 2022 he had a spell of unexplained severe neck pain and stiffness. This turned into ongoing neck/back/chest pain to where he had to take medical leave from work. By this point he had lost almost 100lbs.

His doctors and specialists up here ran tests, tried different therapies, various medications, all with limited success and still there were no answers.

My parents often took him to his appointments as he could not physically drive due to the pain and stiffness, or Rachel would take time off from her job at the Moose Lake school to bring him to his appts.

At the end of May 2023 Brice (and Rachel) was sent to Mayo for a week, with the reason for referral being "Covid Long Hauler".

After long days of testing and meeting with specialists Brice was finally diagnosed with "Central Sensitization Syndrome, Long Covid Syndrome, as well as Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome."

He has more Mayo visits coming up, and one of the treatments his specialists have discussed is the burning of some of the nerves in his neck and back to help with the pain.

Their family is unsure of what his work future looks like. He has had to be away from his job at Sappi since October 2022. . He has been physically unable to drive further than the city limits, and is only just tolerating normal daily activity.

Now that Rachel is off work from the school for the summer, she's spent her time primarily getting him to appointments and helping him with anything he needs.

However, Rachel being off work for the summer means that their household has no income at this time. Things were already tight with Brice being off work, but now they are starting the summer with depleted savings and no income for their family while bills continue to mount (including future hotel stays for Mayo trips). They've also learned some of the upcoming scans he needs at Mayo may not be covered by insurance.

They are in the process of learning what programs or resources may be available to help their family.

In the meantime I am hoping to use this fundraiser to get them back on their feet so they are able to focus on what is next for Brice, and to focus on the kids, who have also been through the emotional roller coaster with their parents.

Anything you are able to give is sincerely appreciated (including prayers).

Thank you,

Anna Byers