Gaining Independence-Finding Purpose Through Pain

Hi, my name is Pam, and this is my daughter, Rachel Myrick.

 

Bit in 2017 by a copperhead snake while inside Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner with family and friends, Rachel's life and the lives of her children, fiancé and closest family changed forever.

 

Not only was Rachel bit by a copperhead snake, she then developed a rare disease called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) from a combination of the injury and the necessary life-saving treatment that immediately followed at the hospital. This terrible and debilitating disease is a neurological disorder that affects the nerves and the circulatory system and the connections/pathways between pain receptors and the brain… and she has progressed to having this disease over 75% of her entire body. Known to the medical community as the most painful medical diagnosis there is, Rachel describes it as a literal Hell on Earth. While this is not the most PC of descriptors, it’s about as accurate as they come. Feeling like she is on fire from deep in he bones out, through the muscles, and the skin level worst sunburn of a person’s life while also having what feels like shards of glass ground into it at all times… Rachel is in worst pain than most can even fathom; and there is no break - it’s 24/7. A light breeze, the cold, the heat, a blanket, the wrong clothing choices, a blanket on the affected area, or simply nothing at all - can increase and/or move the pain to areas and levels of pain that are incomprehensible to the normal person. McGill University rates CRPS pain as worse than amputation of a digit, and markedly worse than unmedicated childbirth or unmedicated kidney stones... and this is her normal. 24/7/365. With no 'good days' or times that it's better than others... it's no wonder they refer to it as The Suicide Disease.

 

Additionally, there is no FDA approved medication or course of treatment for the disease, and everyone takes the approach of just throwing things at it and seeing if anything helps to mask the symptoms. Altogether, you see what a maddening journey this has been for her and the family since the incident that fateful day in 2017.
 When all she craves is a hug from Mom, the kids, or her partner in life/fiance- that's one thing she can't have because that, too, causes even more pain.

 

I’ll let her update you with the changes she has had to make to her life, and her family’s life - and there is a link below to learn more about what she has experienced and what is ahead of her - if you’d like to follow along.


I am helping to establish a fund for her to get some of the treatments that are not covered by insurance and get some assistance for her with the bills she and her family face monthly. She doesn't have the ability to work and needs care so often that she needs Mike to stay home to assist her multiple times a week. Since she cannot foresee when a flare or worsening of her symptoms is coming, a migraine, a movement of the pain, needing to get to the doctor with little to no notice~ it makes it almost impossible for him to work either or for her to be left alone for more than a couple hours at a time.

 

She has been through 4 minor surgeries and 2 major surgeries, as well as dozens and dozens of doctors appointments with the total of her medical bills well surpassing 1.1 million dollars in this short time frame; with limitless bills to go ahead of her.

 

You can follow her story, learn more about both her history and the treatments ahead of her, to find links to ways to help, and so much more. Follow along when you CLICK HERE.

 

Rachel is continuing to be facing so much ahead of her, and as she ages it will only get worse and she is having a hard time asking for anything - as she doesn't want to be a burden on others, but after five years, we are hoping to find some community support as she and her family have reached the end of what they can accomplish on their own. Please, if there's anything you can do to assist, we would appreciate it so very much. If you cannot, please just SHARE SHARE SHARE to get her story out there, to help her reach more people, and to assist in getting her the care and treatments she needs to take the next step at hopefully reducing her pain level even the smallest bit.

 

Rachel doesn’t walk on her own, she barely crutches, and because this disease has ravaged her entire body - she is stuck in a power chair that she can only use if the driveway is completely clear of sticks or bumps or cracks… and it doesn’t fit in her vehicle. She is stuck. In every single way possible.

 

She would be utilizing this money to help pay for medical treatments that aren’t covered by insurance (more on that HERE), to pay bills that are mounting monthly for all of the expenses of daily living, to purchase equipment such as new crutches to help her get to and from her bathroom without bruising her arms even further, and, if Blessed by the Grace of God and beautiful people like you all with enough to make it a reality - she would be beside herself to be able to purchase a power chair that suits her specific needs - which is much more than the typical power chair - and though recommended and prescribed by her doctors, it was denied by insurance because they don’t prescribe such things only due to pain, especially at such a young age. She has lost all of her independence, and if you knew Rachel before the incident… you would know there is nothing that she craves more than her independence and the ability to do life on her own terms. She will never get most of that back, but this chair, and a way to transport it on her own- would give her that dignity back.

 

 

Please watch for more updates and personal messages from Rachel. 

We appreciate and love you all - whether you’re able to give financially or not.