Christine's Courageous Crusade
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July 10, 2014, is a day I will never forget as long as I live. I was working at the Lakewood BlueClaws for Thirsty Thursday. I hadn't been feeling well and couldn't wait for my shift to end because I had such a skull crushing headache. The pain I felt was as if a patron came up behind me and hit me in the back of the head with a baseball bat. I had never experience pain of that magnitude before.
I was walking out to my car after finishing what I thought was the longest shift ever when something went horribly wrong. I became nauseous, began to lose feeling in my face and felt faint. I collapsed in the parking lot next to my car. I lost my ability to speak, move my arms and legs, was in and out of consciousness and was barely breathing on my own. Luckily my husband and son found me and due to their quick actions got me the medical attention I desperately needed. My husband, son and the staff of BlueClaws thought I had a stroke. I thought I was dying.
Upon arrival to the hospital, the doctors ordered tests. Perplexed by my symptoms they diagnosed me with the only thing that would fit; complex migraine with quadriparesis. Convinced there was more to my diagnosis, they suggested additional medical work up. After undergoing a multitude of extensive tests to rule out blockages etc, it was finally discovered that I had a rare brain tumor. Fortunately for me they discovered this. Unfortunately, due to the tumor's location (it sits deep within the center of the two halves of my brain on the brain stem) and complexity, many neurologists will not consider surgery. Instead, treatment usually consists of multiple medications to ease the daily symptoms (excruciating head pain, insomnia, vomiting, blurred vision, muscle weakness, altered speech, memory and mental status) which eventually leads to an increase in medication to combat the symptoms from being on the medication in the first place . All of which has happened to me.
Fast forward to today. Currently, there are only a few (3) neurosurgeons that have expertise in the type of surgery I need. I have been very fortunate to find one who feels I'm an excellent candidate for surgery, who has accepted to take on my case and who feels I will make a full recovery afterward. Due to my family history with cancer though, my surgery date has been fast tracked and moved up to Nov 6, 2014. Recovery will take approximately 1 month so long as things go as planned, but it could be longer if complications arise or additional treatment is needed.
I need to raise money to off set the additional medical costs not currently covered by insurance as well as travel expenses to Houston Texas for myself and husband who will be caring for me. We will also need to cover daily living expenses to get us through the next 3 months should I not be able to return to work.
As a nurse for the last 20 years, I've dedicated my life and donated my time to medically helping others. As hard as it is for me, I now feel the need to ask for the same in return.
Please send us your words of encouragements and prayers. Time is of the essence, if you can pay it forward and find it in your hearts to make a donation to us we would be forever grateful. God Bless
I was walking out to my car after finishing what I thought was the longest shift ever when something went horribly wrong. I became nauseous, began to lose feeling in my face and felt faint. I collapsed in the parking lot next to my car. I lost my ability to speak, move my arms and legs, was in and out of consciousness and was barely breathing on my own. Luckily my husband and son found me and due to their quick actions got me the medical attention I desperately needed. My husband, son and the staff of BlueClaws thought I had a stroke. I thought I was dying.
Upon arrival to the hospital, the doctors ordered tests. Perplexed by my symptoms they diagnosed me with the only thing that would fit; complex migraine with quadriparesis. Convinced there was more to my diagnosis, they suggested additional medical work up. After undergoing a multitude of extensive tests to rule out blockages etc, it was finally discovered that I had a rare brain tumor. Fortunately for me they discovered this. Unfortunately, due to the tumor's location (it sits deep within the center of the two halves of my brain on the brain stem) and complexity, many neurologists will not consider surgery. Instead, treatment usually consists of multiple medications to ease the daily symptoms (excruciating head pain, insomnia, vomiting, blurred vision, muscle weakness, altered speech, memory and mental status) which eventually leads to an increase in medication to combat the symptoms from being on the medication in the first place . All of which has happened to me.
Fast forward to today. Currently, there are only a few (3) neurosurgeons that have expertise in the type of surgery I need. I have been very fortunate to find one who feels I'm an excellent candidate for surgery, who has accepted to take on my case and who feels I will make a full recovery afterward. Due to my family history with cancer though, my surgery date has been fast tracked and moved up to Nov 6, 2014. Recovery will take approximately 1 month so long as things go as planned, but it could be longer if complications arise or additional treatment is needed.
I need to raise money to off set the additional medical costs not currently covered by insurance as well as travel expenses to Houston Texas for myself and husband who will be caring for me. We will also need to cover daily living expenses to get us through the next 3 months should I not be able to return to work.
As a nurse for the last 20 years, I've dedicated my life and donated my time to medically helping others. As hard as it is for me, I now feel the need to ask for the same in return.
Please send us your words of encouragements and prayers. Time is of the essence, if you can pay it forward and find it in your hearts to make a donation to us we would be forever grateful. God Bless
Organizer
Christine Resetar Rodina
Organizer
Brick, NJ
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