Giving up organs isn't easy!
Donation protected
Asking for help with great humility!
In October 2019, I had a surgery and a mass was found during a required follow up scan. It was later determined to be bilateral masses on my adrenal glands. I have had a lot of tests including a CT, xray, EKG, labs on my blood and urine and a MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) scan. Ultimately diagnosed with bilateral Pheochromocytoma’s and a rare genetic condition called MEN2A which involves the thyroid as well.
Due to surgeries, I will be out of work for as little as 10 weeks, if not more. Only having 3 weeks of sick and personal time, this will cause a significant financial strain on us. I am the insurance provider for my family, so they will be billing us after I no longer am receiving wages. My husband has and continues to be my support person and is the main financial provider for our family. He has had to miss a lot of work lately due to my medical issues and will have to miss two full weeks during the procedures. He does not have benefits that allow him to take paid time off or sick leave. This coupled with my unpaid time off will cause a significant financial burden.
Pheochromocytoma's are very rare, but bilateral is even more rare and are very dangerous which requires them to be removed as soon as possible. There is not a surgeon here that will remove them due to their high risk. So, I have to travel to MU in Columbia, MO for all my consultations, surgeries, and follow-ups.
I will have to have two separate “open” high risk surgeries requiring two days in the ICU and at least a week in the hospital, each surgery. The first surgery will remove the right one, about the size of a lime, along with my adrenal gland. The second surgery will take place approximately 4-6 weeks after the first removing the largest one on my right side, about the size of an orange and my adrenal gland. This surgery may require my spleen and the left kidney to be removed due to the size of the pheochromocytoma invading these organs. Because of my genetic disorder, my thyroid will be removed by another surgeon in the same surgery.
Please know that we would not be asking for help if we have not exhausted ALL avenues we can through our places of employment and community resources. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I would like to reassure you that the money donated will go towards medical and household bills, groceries, gas, hotel and food cost during travel time.
This has been difficult to write, but we are feeling hopeful and thankful in advance. We know this is a hard time of year for many families with the Christmas season upon us. If you cannot financially help, please help in the form of sharing.
Love,
The Wilders'
In October 2019, I had a surgery and a mass was found during a required follow up scan. It was later determined to be bilateral masses on my adrenal glands. I have had a lot of tests including a CT, xray, EKG, labs on my blood and urine and a MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) scan. Ultimately diagnosed with bilateral Pheochromocytoma’s and a rare genetic condition called MEN2A which involves the thyroid as well.
Due to surgeries, I will be out of work for as little as 10 weeks, if not more. Only having 3 weeks of sick and personal time, this will cause a significant financial strain on us. I am the insurance provider for my family, so they will be billing us after I no longer am receiving wages. My husband has and continues to be my support person and is the main financial provider for our family. He has had to miss a lot of work lately due to my medical issues and will have to miss two full weeks during the procedures. He does not have benefits that allow him to take paid time off or sick leave. This coupled with my unpaid time off will cause a significant financial burden.
Pheochromocytoma's are very rare, but bilateral is even more rare and are very dangerous which requires them to be removed as soon as possible. There is not a surgeon here that will remove them due to their high risk. So, I have to travel to MU in Columbia, MO for all my consultations, surgeries, and follow-ups.
I will have to have two separate “open” high risk surgeries requiring two days in the ICU and at least a week in the hospital, each surgery. The first surgery will remove the right one, about the size of a lime, along with my adrenal gland. The second surgery will take place approximately 4-6 weeks after the first removing the largest one on my right side, about the size of an orange and my adrenal gland. This surgery may require my spleen and the left kidney to be removed due to the size of the pheochromocytoma invading these organs. Because of my genetic disorder, my thyroid will be removed by another surgeon in the same surgery.
Please know that we would not be asking for help if we have not exhausted ALL avenues we can through our places of employment and community resources. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I would like to reassure you that the money donated will go towards medical and household bills, groceries, gas, hotel and food cost during travel time.
This has been difficult to write, but we are feeling hopeful and thankful in advance. We know this is a hard time of year for many families with the Christmas season upon us. If you cannot financially help, please help in the form of sharing.
Love,
The Wilders'
Organizer
LaShonda Wilder
Organizer
Springfield, MO