Donate to Katie's Recovery and Medical Expenses

Hi all,

I’m Katie, a chronically ill mom based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve dealt with a host of chronic illnesses since the age of sixteen. My most prevalent of the bunch is CVID (Common Variable Immune Deficiency Disorder), which presents with chronic sinusitis. For the last almost 40 years, I’ve battled sinus infection after sinus infection every time I get sick. I endure multiple courses of antibiotics annually (7+), and the overuse has caused me to develop a resistance to Augmentin (one of my big gun antibiotics taken to help resolve infections). I was also recently diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease (Lymphatic Interstitial Pneumonia) which is a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis. Mine is brought on by my use of IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) to keep my IGG levels at normal levels to also try and combat ongoing infection. My body is scarring my lungs and making it progressively more difficult to breathe. I’ve been through rounds of chemotherapy drugs to help “melt” the scarring, but it’s imperative that we stay on top of infections to make sure the scarring in my lungs isn’t made worse by pneumonia or chest infections. I’ve been in remission from the ILD/LIP for almost three years now. However, the sinus infections have persisted. In December 2024, I was on my way to Christmas Eve dinner when I suffered an arterial break in my nose and almost bled out on the side of the road. I was hospitalized until New Years Eve, with round the clock care and over 45 hours of non stop IV antibiotics to combat sepsis I developed from a poorly placed nasal balloon. During that stay, I met the first competent ENT (Ear Nose and Throat specialist) I had met in my almost 9 years with the John Muir network. Dr. Hannabass was wonderful and had all the insight I needed. When he suggested sinus surgery, and after it was decided it wasn’t an emergent need after I failed to continue to bleed post removal of my nasal balloons, he started talking to me about Dr. Kim. Dr. Kim is a friend of his who deals with more complex neurological (and otherwise) cases like mine. After meeting with Dr. Kim, I decided he was the surgeon who could best take on my unique set of circumstances, as he had treated similar cases before.

On 3/31/2025 I underwent the following procedures:

“BILATERAL ENDOSCOPIC TOTAL

ETHMOIDECTOMY AND

SPHENOIDOTOMY WITH TISSUE

REMOVAL, BILATERAL ENDOSCOPIC FRONTAL SINUSOTOMY WITH TISSUE REMOVAL, BILATERAL ENDOSCOPIC MAXILLARY SINUS WITH TISSUE REMOVAL, BILATERAL SUBMUCOUS RESECTION OF TURBINATE, BILATERAL ENDOSCOPIC CONCHA BULLOSA RESECTION, SEPTOPLASTY, SURGERY USING IMAGE GUIDANCE.“

This is all a fancy way of saying they have taken a bulldozer to my sinus cavities to make it all more open and easier to irrigate/air out. This will also, theoretically, lessen the severity and frequency of future sinus infections. Fingers crossed. We have to work to find alternative methods, as the antibiotics are a bandaid on a bullet hole.

I am currently scheduled to be out of work through 4/14. I’ll be out of work for at least two weeks, possibly longer depending on how I heal. I will know more at my follow up appointment(s) with my PCP and surgeon. While I’ve filed for State Disability Insurance (SDI), it can take up to six weeks to process, which means I’ll be without any income for nearly a month.

This time away from work is necessary for my healing, but the financial gap is a big stressor. If you’re able to contribute anything—no matter how small—it would mean the world to me and help cover essential expenses like medical expenses, ongoing bills, and groceries while I recover.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting however you can. I truly appreciate it.

With gratitude,

Katie Butler