Help Erica fight this rare disease

UPDATE: MAY 22ND:

Erica had an extremely bad night.

We go 2 steps fwd.... 100 steps back...

Please continue to pray and share.

UPDATE: MAY 20th:

Erica did well with the PICC line. Under observation till later tonight. If all is good will start compounded IV again later tonight. Thanks for the continued prayers and support.

UPDATE: As of May 18th, feeding tube was unsuccessful due to complications. Monday morning a Pic line will go in to see if this will help her get anything in her body to restore fat deposits. To plump up the small intestines and the 2 main arteries separate. The pharmacy is making a special compound for her IV. It is NOT covered by insurance and 1k for each bag.

I am Lisa , Joanne's best friend. Her 17yr old daughter has been in and out of hospitals since 2023.

Last year she had 1 issue which kept her from eating solid foods, she would vomit bc the food could not digest. This year the news got extremely bad for her daughter, Joanne is a single mom, works extremely hard , working with elderly people as a care taker.

They are right now living in the hospital, Erica has Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome.

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a rare condition that involves compression of the third portion of the duodenum which is the upper part of the small intestines just past the stomach. This condition occurs when the third part of the duodenum is compressed between two arteries – the main artery of the body called the abdominal aorta (AA) and one of its branches called the SMA. The SMA provides blood supply to the small intestines and the first part of the colon. Compression of the SMA against the AA can prevent duodenal contents from draining into the jejunum (upper small intestine) hence the inability to get proper nutrition leading to weight loss and malnutrition. Pain from the compression can be debilitating, causing “food fear” and aggravating the condition. Nausea and vomiting are manifestations of the compression of the duodenum. When weight loss is persistent, the mesenteric fat pad decreases and causes a decrease in the angle between the SMA and AA hence aggravating the compression and obstruction. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment are essential to avoid significant complications or death.

She is in the last stage of this disease. Her feeding tube went in today.

The main arteries are crushed.. please help Joanne with anything you can. The struggle being a single mom and her daughter living in the hospital scared and doesn't want her mom to leave her side is so hard when she stopped working at Allenwood General Store as well as a at home health aide and hospital bills will be piling up and house bills knowing her daughter maybe staying in a hospital and not coming home. Knowing if they attempt this surgery she will pass away.

Anything can help Joanne in this heart wrenching time.

Blessings to you all.