Help Heather with her recovery and care

Hello my name is Heather Heath. I am starting this go fund me page for Heather Stangenwald (Willman) to help and assist her with her medical bills, medications and any other items she may need since her diagnosis. Please share and donate if your able she will greatly appreciate any help that she receives.

On February 27th 2025, Heather was taken to St Luke's ER in Cedar Rapids IA. She went to the ER due to she was unsteady on her feet, dizzy, weak on her left side, slurred speech ,and blurry vision, and having memory problems. They admitted her right away through the ER and didn’t waste any time with tests to understand what was going on. Heather spent a total of 32 days in the hospital. The test Heather underwent were 4 or 5 MRI’s of her head, neck ,and spine; 4 or 5 CT Scans with and without contract of her head, neck, and spine, as well as a spinal tap and then 2 blood patches to seal the leak from the spinal tap also a test for her heart. While in the hospital she had many therapy sessions (occupational, physical and speech) to help her rehabilitate. This was multiple times a day and a week.

Heather was discharged from the hospital after 32 long and horrible days. She was so out of it for most of the first 3 weeks struggling and not understanding what was going on. Heather was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis ( a chronic disease of the central nervous system, where the body’s immune system attacks the myelin sheath, which protects nerve fibers) and found she also has a leaking valve in her heart. They also haven’t ruled out that she could have also had a stroke.

For treatment for Multiple Sclerosis it will be medications and physical therapy to help her with strength, memory, and medication to help with her nerve pain that she deals with everyday all day. There are days that Heather struggles to get out of bed and to do her normal activities. Some days she is unable to work, to drive due to her being dizzy. She was unable to work for the 32 day she was in the hospital. She is slowly trying to go back to work a couple hours here and there to get back into a routine. This has been and will continue to be a life changing battle and experience that she will push through each and every day. She will have good days and bad days. Heather has a strong support system behind her, but I know there is a little bit more that she could need help with.

Thank you to everyone that donates and for helping Heather. She is an amazing person inside and out and she would do anything for anyone. She is caring, has a huge heart and would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. She has always put others first, but I feel it’s time to put her first and show her she is worth it and deserves help and support. I know she would do it for others.

Thanks again, God Bless

Love,

Heather Heath