Enduring the Storm, Danita's Journey

The Long Storm....

Several years ago, while in her thirties, Danita began having some unusual physical issues.
At first it was periodic bouts of vomiting and severe abominable pain. Then her hands began to swell and stiffen, and her fingers would swell from the knuckle to the hand, accompanied by debilitating pain. In time, she began losing her balance, the muscles in her legs began to atrophy. A few years ago, it became impossible for her to climb steps or rise from a seated position without using her arms to lift herself from a chair.
Last year, Danita and I (Jean) were on a trip together. She fell getting out of a "handicap" shower, because the shower threshold was too high for her to step over. She fell backwards and emergency services were required to lift her from the floor. Once she falls, she is unable to get to a standing position from the floor. 

At one point Danita was diagnosed with a connective tissue disease, but in time, that was ruled out as a
misdiagnosis. 

She has no diagnosis, yet she has seen doctors at the best hospitals in Atlanta, Emory and Piedmont to name a couple. She has been to research hospitals around the country, including the University of Virginia.
At University Hospital in Charlottesville, extensive genetic tests were conducted. The tests confirmed she has no
signs of a predisposed, genetic illness.
Lupus, Muscular Dystrophy, ALS, MS and most other common, and many rare conditions, have been eliminated as possibilities.

In the last ten years, the vomiting, stomach pains, and swollen hands that she initially experienced have ceased completely, but the muscle atrophy has continued, and become much worse. She is now having trouble maintaining  
independence in her daily life.

But we believe with some adjustments and accommodations to her home and car, and finding her the equipment
she needs, she can have many, many more 
years of independent living; something that is very important to her. And that's where this fund raiser comes in.

Danita said, "I can make my house payment and pay my electric, my insurance, my other utilities, but I can't
afford the extra things that would help keep me mobile. I keep believing that next month I can pay for this, or
purchase that, but it just hasn't worked out."

We hope you will consider making a donation to help us get her house and her vehicle re-accommodated.
Every penny raised will go directly to these renovations and updates.

One of us has known Danita for almost thirty years, the other for only a few months. Some of you reading this
have known her longer, some less. But unless you've seen her in person in the last few years, you probably didn't  know anything was going on with her, because she doesn't talk about her battles or her troubles on social media, and she doesn't complain. She doesn't talk about it much in person either. She has never asked us to help her, but has attempted to handle this on her own. Because she hadn't confided in us, we had no way of knowing how much she was struggling in her own home. 

So when she sent a prayer request a few days ago, and the prayer was for herself, we all knew things had turned worse. Because she had never reached out on her own behalf before. We just didn't know how long the she had needed our prayers and help.

With her permission to post, here is the prayer request she sent:

- This is difficult for me. 
But I know I need people praying. 

It is time for me to come clean. 
Pride is a terrible, terrible thing to hold onto. And I tend to hold on with both hands, all ten toes and my teeth. 


But I really need your prayers. So I’m dropping the burden of pride. 


This winter has been tough. I’ve lived as a hermit for the most part. I'm fearful of driving because I know I’m a
danger to others. If you could see what I do in the privacy of my car, you would be terrified to get on the road, in
fear of crossing paths with me. I have to use my hands to lift my leg from gas pedal to breaks, and back. I drive under the speed limit, hoping to avoid getting near other drivers. But they don’t understand, so they honk. Give me a one finger salute and scream at me from their open windows. You would be impressed with all the titles
and accolades they’ve given me! Sometimes they cut in front of me, then slow down, so that they are mere inches from my front bumper. I think they’re attempting to show me how aggravating I am as a driver... 
I’ve had so many near misses, I’ve come close to rear-ending cars and 18 wheelers. 
I know I need to move forward to hand controls, but I don’t want to invest in them on my 10 year old car. 

Getting to my car is another story. I’ve become terrified of falling in my garage. And some days, I can’t lift my leg
to get inside the car. The seat is too low for me to fall backwards and drop into. I’m afraid I’ll miss and hit the
concrete. I need a hip height seat. 

Garrett has an idea about installing overhead rings for me to hang onto in the garage. They would help prevent a hard fall.  My brother is going to place a handrail  on the garage wall beside my car.  Hopefully this will ease my mind about falling. 

Bathing in the tub and showering is now out of the question. I’ve taken sponge baths for months. A while back I got stuck inside my shower and couldn’t lift my leg over the shower threshold. My threshold is about six inches. I was hoping to have a zero entry shower installed, but it is too expensive, a major renovation. So now I’m looking for an affordable alternative, with a low threshold rather than zero entry. 


For weeks now, I’ve had terrible brain fog. Combined with increased muscle weakness and imbalance... I'm a mess.
*(She shared that she hasn't been outside very much, unable to get onto her front porch or back deck. She feels lack of sunshine and fresh air contributes to the brain fog).

I am asking for your prayers for everything listed above. And also that I will find a way to afford all the things that I need. The things that will allow me to continue to live independently. 

Please also pray for an affordable, newer vehicle, one that will accommodate a lift. Because I also need a motorized
wheelchair. My doctor has written a prescription for one, but my Kia Soul probably wouldn't accommodate a lift and chair. 
Most urgent prayer is for physical strength, increased cognitive ability, and an answer to a handicap accessible
bathroom.


I apologize for writing a big fat book of prayer requests. But I know you pray, and I know He listens. ♥️ Danita

If you have never met Danita, please know that she is a good friend and a good woman.
Below are some of the things we heard from a few of her friends this week: 

"Danita is truly the most humble, selfless, giving, caring, loving and just the sweetest soul I have ever met.  She will do anything in her power to help you and that is whether you are a friend or stranger.  So hard for me to understand why she has been dealt with so many truly hard times in her life.  Most people would simply give up.  Not my friend Danita, she always finds a way and she does without ever asking for help.  If you know her, you know she is an Amazing lady.  With all of the major hardships she has had to endure she still manages to always help others along the way, myself included.   Now it is time for us to help her never lose hope and help her with these huge challenges she is forced to face.
 You are not alone Danita.  We are all here with you, all the way!!  Love my dear dear friend Danita.  If you know her, I know you do too."
- LeighAnnB.

"Danita is one Amazing person!  I’ve known her for about 5 years.  I’ll never forget the first time I met her, she and I were in a big conference room with hundreds of other women.  Her sweet smile and determination  is what drew me to her!  If she is your friend, you’ve got one of the best!! "-  Robyn W.

"Danita is an inspiration for anyone who says "I can't". I have seen first hand her struggles in her home, due to a need for re-accommodations. I've invited her to go places with me, but she always declines, because walking just a few feet is a struggle for her, even with help. She has the ability to bring out the best in others, and thinks of helping others before herself. I've watched her pull herself up by her bootstraps and carry on. Maintaining a positive attitude through it all. Even after having to call 911 after a fall.
I believe it's the season for us to help her. " - Teresa

"I've known Danita for most of my life. I've seen her go from a vibrant, active lady to one who can barely walk. But you know what I haven't seen? I've never seen or heard her complain. She just keeps going. I've watched as others tell her of their physical aches and pains, and I've listened as she empathized with them, but not once have I heard her tell them about the pain in her own body. I've watched in awe as she has overcome one obstacle after another. The storms keep hitting, and she keeps getting back up. In her shoes, most of us would have given up long ago." -Cindy



Donate
Please help us help her. Even a small amount will make a difference.

Share
Please share on Social Media and by email.

Pray
Most importantly, please pray for Danita to have a miraculous healing in her body.