We hope to alleviate some of the financial burden Stephanie is facing due to her recent diagnosis.

Stephanie has a history of health issues, primarily severe stomach problems that have led to frequent hospital visits every six months for years. Unfortunately, these issues were often misdiagnosed as conditions like the flu or food poisoning, preventing her from receiving the proper treatment and medication that could have helped her avoid this situation. In addition, she struggles with tachycardia, atrial fibrillation (afib), and severe anemia. Before her recent hospitalization, Stephanie had been undergoing weekly treatment for anemia.

Last year, during the start of a family vacation, she fell ill and a scan revealed a severe bowel obstruction. Her doctors referred her to a GI specialist, who suspected Crohn’s disease and put her on steroids, but they needed a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, which was scheduled for June. She has been on steroids for a year now, which has caused additional health complications. The plan was to taper off the steroids after the biopsy and colonoscopy in June.

However, last week Stephanie experienced a severe Crohn’s flare-up that was initially mistaken for a stomach bug. When her family noticed she was delirious and unable to keep anything down for several days, they rushed her to Noyes Hospital. A CT scan revealed a major bowel obstruction, so she was transferred by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Doctors initially thought she would need emergency surgery, but after administering nausea and pain medications, and allowing her time without food, her condition improved enough to avoid immediate surgery. After further scans and a colonoscopy, the medical team decided that if she stays stable for another day, she can wait three weeks for surgery. This additional time will allow her to plan for her children, her clients, her insurance, and manage some of her anxiety before the procedure.

The exam confirmed that she requires a portion of her intestines to be removed. The obstruction occurs where the small intestine meets the large intestine, preventing food and drink from passing properly, which causes extreme illness and makes her vulnerable to further Crohn’s flare-ups. Given the complexity of the surgery, she will be out of work for at least three months, and recovery is expected to be very difficult. While Stephanie is strong and determined to get through this, the financial and emotional toll will be significant. She faces the challenge of not being able to care for her children or manage her household responsibilities, adding to the hardship.

Stephanie is a single mother of three and is self-employed, meaning she will have no income or disability benefits while out of work. In addition to her role as a mother, she is an active and engaged member of her community and a foster parent to many children.

Stephanie is scheduled for a bowel resection and, hopefully, an anastomosis. The bowel resection will remove the diseased portion of her colon, and if the remaining colon is in good condition, it will be reconnected through the anastomosis procedure. If the remaining colon is too inflamed, she will need a temporary ostomy bag until the anastomosis can be safely performed at a later time.