My wife, April Theisen, has spent her life caring for others as a firefighter/paramedic and physician assistant, serving emergency patients, first responders, and their families. Today, she is the one needing help.

After vaccination (mandated in OR) and multiple COVID infections, April developed severe Long COVID, losing her ability to work, exercise, and function independently. Once a competitive athlete, runner, and active mother, she now struggles with daily activities and often requires mobility assistance.

What many people don’t see is how severe this illness has become. In addition to debilitating fatigue and cognitive impairment, April now struggles with memory problems, dangerously low blood pressure, an inability to tolerate standing for long periods, worsening joint instability and inflammation, immune dysfunction that leaves her vulnerable to infections, and progressive vascular complications—including iliac vein compression that will require surgery in the coming weeks.

Simple things most people take for granted have become overwhelming. She frequently has to lie down throughout the day, uses a stool to cook and shower, and at times needs help with basic self-care. She can no longer walk our son to school or safely walk our dog Brew. Watching someone so strong and independent slowly lose pieces of the life she loved has been heartbreaking.

Despite extensive treatment across multiple states and exhausting our family’s savings pursuing care, her condition continues to decline.

April has been accepted into a physician-supervised clinical protocol at Edogawa Hospital in Tokyo, Japan (July 17–August 13, 2026). Before making this decision, she spent countless hours researching options and speaking directly with prior participants who shared encouraging experiences after treatment. While no guarantees exist, this gave her hope after exhausting treatment options in the United States.

The protocol includes advanced blood filtration (DFPP) and regenerative stem cell growth factor infusions over three weeks—treatments not currently available in the U.S. Donations will help cover treatment ONLY her, airfare, & housing, have been secured.

We are asking for help to give April a chance to regain function, independence, and quality of life. We are hopeful that what is learned through this clinical trial may also help inform future care for others suffering from Long COVID.

Any support, prayers, or sharing means more than words can express. Thank you for helping us hold onto hope.

Please reach out if you have additional questions.