Help Ericka fight Myasthenia Gravis

Hi my name is Christeen. I along with some other friends are starting a fundraiser to help Ericka pay Medical Bills and assist her monetarily while she is battling a rare condition called Myasthenia Gravis. Her symptoms started last summer and have progressively worsened. She is now receiving plasmapheresus infusions but has a long way to go.

 

Here is her story in her own words:

At the end of May last year I started getting some double vision and slurred speak. I thought it was a ear infection. Then we thought maybe Vertigo. I went to Ear, Nose, Throat rules out vertigo. Went to my eye doctor Dr. Souleyrette who was amazing had to make special glasses with prism just so I could see ( three different times cause they changed)! Went to eye specialist a joke. Went to Dr Tony Smith who said he was almost positive I had Myasthenia Gravis and I needed a Neurologist. It took months to get into see one. In the meantime I continue to lose weight and lose my eyesight and my ability to swallow. My blood work showed nothing but I had all the signs. Started treatment me in Etown but I continue to go down hill. Finally I got a referral to Uk but it wasn’t til April. I went and saw my doctor Erin Bryant I was down over 50 pounds by now. She was furious and was like you can’t wait. She was amazing got me in to see a Uk cardio thoracic doctor who got me an appointment with a Neurologist at Uk the next day. I was so bad when she saw me she wanted to admit me but I talked her out of it. I should have cause I only got worse. This was on a Wednesday by that Friday Bryan came home sick. That Sunday I was struggling to even get my medicine down which I was crushing and putting in pudding. Bryan had brain fog and was exhausted. Bryan called Will early Monday morning to come home. It was a holiday my doctor was out. Will took me to our ER who gave me a bag of fluids sent me home. Struggled again on Tuesday back to our ER then a ambulance ride to Lexington to UK hospital. Bryan tested positive for Covid on Tuesday so did I at our ER but they didn’t put it in my chart so I had to be tested again early Wednesday morning at UK. Will followed the ambulance to Uk at this point I couldn’t talk or swallow my own spit. The ambulance drivers was amazing they waited for him to park so he could go with me. Will had to tell them what was going on and signed all my paperwork. UK hospital was amazing. I was in what they call a Myasthenia Gravis crisis with Covid. Will never left my side. I was admitted and the sweet lady that started my IVG treatment went and begged them to let Will stay not once but three times. To say I am amazed and proud of my son is an understatement. They told him if he stayed he couldn’t leave the room and he had to keep his mask on. If he left he couldn’t come back in. He stayed by my side from Wednesday to Wednesday at the hospital. I had multiple IV’s because my poor veins would blow. I had two cameras down my nose, tube down my nose/ throat for pills and then a feeding tube which is bigger replaced it.! Each time it hurt and I would cry and my son was like you got this. I would say no to a test and he would say schedule it. He knew how to unhook all my wires and stop my feeding tube so I could go to the restroom. He took amazing care of me. The rooms are large there with big recliner thank goodness. But still he wore a mask except to eat he even sleep in it. To say I’m a proud mommy and very thankful to my son for helping me recover is an understatement. I truly don’t think without God, him and the UK staff who knows how to treat my disease I would have made.

I have a rare disease called Myasthenia Gravis Musk which means it affects my eyes and my ability to swallow. I’m currently home and I have started a new treatment. I will always have this disease but they tell me they can fix me. So with continued prayer I hope to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But continue to pray cause I can’t work or do anything. Please pray for Bryan as he takes me to appointments and tries to keep us ahead of our bills.

I also have to thank our family and friends who brought stuff to us at the hospital and here at the house. And all my friends who have messaged and texted to just check on me. I love you guys!

It is so easy to forget to be thankful for the simple things like your sight and the ability to eat whatever you want. Stop and be thankful for everything God has allowed you to have. This disease has truly changed the person I am and I’ll never be ungrateful again for anything!

 

So please if you can spare a little money your help is so very appreciated during her time of crisis. Ericka is such a fun loving person who would do anything for anyone. We just want to make her life a little less stressful during her treatment. MG is incurable, Ericka is just trying to get back to living a fairly normal life. Thank you!