Britt’s SMAS won’t win!

My older sister Brittany (Britt) is back in the hospital fighting with her medical condition, SMAS (Superior Masenteric Artery Syndrome) In a non doctor term, basically a part of her small intestine is compressed between two arteries. This causes severe abdominal pain, vomiting, inability to eat or drink, and severe weight loss. The inability to eat causes her to become malnourished, which makes her body begin to eat away at the muscle and little fat she has. In 2015, Britt weighed 72 pounds and was on deaths doorstep. She went through surgeries, feeding tubes, several tests and finally began to recover. Britt finally got to a healthy weight, was able to eat, work, workout, and have a life again. In 2015 we were told Britt would always have this, that there would be times she’d experience it again, and that she’d probably had this since she was a baby. Fast forward to today, and Britt is back in the hospital. She has been for almost two weeks. Fighting the battle of sudden extreme weight loss, passing out, being extremely weak, and not being able to eat or drink. After several rounds of medications and tests it’s been determined that the surgery from 2015, and SMAS has flared up. Likely caused by severe nerve damage and the intestine being compressed again. Doctors have reported that she will experience this in life, where she will have flare ups, and then they will go away, and moments where she won’t even have symptoms.  When the flare ups begin she is to take the medication and it will help contain them. Well, we, and Britt herself didn’t know what was happening. Britt stubbornly didn’t want to go to the doctors or mention anything when this started three months ago, all because her baby sister (me) was getting married. Well, I’ll forgive her for that. And with all that being said, myself and Britt’s amazing coworker and friend, Imani, have started this page. We are hoping to raise money for Britt as she is currently out of work, and will be for quite sometime as she will be sent to a rehabilitation center within the next week. Britt was in a condition where her body started to eat away at the muscle because her body was so malnourished due to her inability to eat. Britt has lost an extreme amount of weight, and strength and needs to gain all of that back before she can go home. With Britt not being able to work, her medical bills are going to pile up. Which is a stress that she does not need. Britt’s focus needs to be on recovery! Britt who is a former Police Officer, and has remained in the career field of helping others, as she’s a EMT/911 dispatcher has a heart to always help others.  We are hoping to raise enough to cover her deductible and then some with her medical bills. Britt recently got a new place in August, so another stressor is being able to maintain rent while being away from work. My family,  Britt and Imani would be forever grateful for whatever can be donated. Britt is a special person to each and every one of us and we want to see her healthy again, and most importantly out of the hospital and working again. Her company, Falck has been nothing but supportive. We know she misses work and wishes she could work from her hospital bed. So let’s say a prayer for a quick healthy recovery, and to get Britt financially taken care of. 


With love,
Erica Guyer (lil sis) and Imani Thomas (Friend & Coworker)