Help a girly pop save her very sick momma.
Donation protected
Hey y’all, after many tears and hesitations I have finally decided I need to ask for help. I am and have been the sole caretaker (monetarily, physically, and mentally) for my momma for the past 8 years.
To catch you up to speed, last August, after her emergency abdominal surgery - doctors found she has two new aneurysms at the top and bottom of her aorta, and a tear spanning her entire aorta. Who knew aortas were that long ??
The vascular surgery she needs is so highly specialized- there’s no doctor in Louisiana qualified to do it. This means I need to take her to Houston, TX for treatment. We just got back from Texas this week after meeting her 2nd surgeon - she will need either one massive surgery or two difficult surgeries. They said to expect a 2 week hospital stay for the first surgery alone.
While in Texas my mom was diagnosed by a geneticist with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome. LDS is a very rare genetic disorder that affects connective tissue. Connective tissue protects, supports and gives structure to all tissues and organs in the body. Symptoms of LDS include: Clubbed feet, pigeon chest, curved spine, recurring hernias, aorta and heart problems, etc. (pretty much everything she’s ever dealt with in her life). But this is also why she has velvety soft skin!
If they decide against the one massive surgery - they want to do open surgery (go through the side of her ribs) on the upper part of her aorta in roughly 4 to 6 weeks. Then they would like her to return one month after her first surgery so they can operate on her lower aortic aneurysm (where she’s also at risk of losing one of her kidneys).
Of course, I’ll be staying at the hospital during my mom’s recovery - not only to care for her, but to be her advocate. I need to come up with money for: time off work; the flight there; one night in a hotel; lyft rides to and from the airport, hotel, and hospital; food; a rental car and gas for the drive home because she will not be able to fly; and whatever other incidentals come up.
It’s a lot, but it’s my momma. She is the reason that I live such a beautiful life. If my momma has impacted your life in any positive way like I know she has mine, please consider sending whatever you can. ❤️
I also would like to mention that I never want to spell aneurysm again.
To catch you up to speed, last August, after her emergency abdominal surgery - doctors found she has two new aneurysms at the top and bottom of her aorta, and a tear spanning her entire aorta. Who knew aortas were that long ??
The vascular surgery she needs is so highly specialized- there’s no doctor in Louisiana qualified to do it. This means I need to take her to Houston, TX for treatment. We just got back from Texas this week after meeting her 2nd surgeon - she will need either one massive surgery or two difficult surgeries. They said to expect a 2 week hospital stay for the first surgery alone.
While in Texas my mom was diagnosed by a geneticist with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome. LDS is a very rare genetic disorder that affects connective tissue. Connective tissue protects, supports and gives structure to all tissues and organs in the body. Symptoms of LDS include: Clubbed feet, pigeon chest, curved spine, recurring hernias, aorta and heart problems, etc. (pretty much everything she’s ever dealt with in her life). But this is also why she has velvety soft skin!
If they decide against the one massive surgery - they want to do open surgery (go through the side of her ribs) on the upper part of her aorta in roughly 4 to 6 weeks. Then they would like her to return one month after her first surgery so they can operate on her lower aortic aneurysm (where she’s also at risk of losing one of her kidneys).
Of course, I’ll be staying at the hospital during my mom’s recovery - not only to care for her, but to be her advocate. I need to come up with money for: time off work; the flight there; one night in a hotel; lyft rides to and from the airport, hotel, and hospital; food; a rental car and gas for the drive home because she will not be able to fly; and whatever other incidentals come up.
It’s a lot, but it’s my momma. She is the reason that I live such a beautiful life. If my momma has impacted your life in any positive way like I know she has mine, please consider sending whatever you can. ❤️
I also would like to mention that I never want to spell aneurysm again.
Co-organizers (5)
Emmarose Duarte
Organizer
New Orleans, LA
Erica Jamal Edwards
Co-organizer
Jenna Kriho
Co-organizer
Laura Blevins
Co-organizer
Summer Snoderly
Co-organizer