Help for the Perringtons (Health expenses)

Aloha friends, family, and everyone else who is reading this,

I write to you today on behalf of my the Perrington family. They are my family. There is a husband named Jamie, a wife named Renee, and 4 beautiful daughters.

This is about the 17 year old daughter named Merciful Rain.

Last July, Mercy started experincing seizures out of the blue. They were terrifying for both her and the family, as you would expect. After multiple calls to 911 and visits at the local community hospital, where no answers were forthcoming and seizures continued, she was life flighted with her mom to Oahu with more physicians and a more equipped hospital.

Although, I was not there, this is difficult to write. Talking regularly with my sister Renee and hearing her tears and pleas and prayers for her beautiful daughter to be out of pain and for answers to come, while she did her best to stay strong for her daughter, was excruciating to witness.

Then the diagnosis came. The disease is anti-NMDA RECEPTOR ENCEPHALITIS. That sounds scary to those of us who didn't know what it was. Luckily, or not, there was a book written about it and a documentary on Netflix called Brain on Fire. If you want to research it, please do. If not, you can probably imagine some of it simply by the title.

There is no official cure. There was treatment though and they spent 2 weeks at the hospital undergoing it. When they returned home, there was physical therapy, psychological therapy, speech therapy, and everything else you could imagine.

Mercy began to feel better. Her words came back. Her shaking hands stopped trembling and she was able to draw again. Mercy is not a typical teenager. She is amazing. She does well in school, has friends, and even got a job this year. While it was an adjustment, she prevailed and overcame.

Several weeks ago, the siblings living at home became fearful and started noticing a relapse of symptoms. They immediately jumped on it. Midnight and 2am calls with a specialist at the Mayo Clinic, the neurologist in Oahu, blood work etc.

The antibodies had returned. The symptoms were back. After many zoom meetings and 2am calls, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota agreed to treat our precious Merciful Rain.

Insurance did not cover travel. Insurance did not cover hotel or meals or transportation. Insurance did not cover rent or gas or the electric bill.

Renee and Mercy are in Minnesota being treated by a team of the best doctors in the field for this illness.

On Monday, Mercy begins plasma replacement therapy for 10 days with one day off in between which will be spent on steroids.

Renee is blessed to have a job where she had accumulated sick and vacation days. Those are gone. They will hold her job and have been incredibly accommodating of her family's needs. She is grateful.

There are bills though. 3 weeks without pay when you live paycheck to paycheck can devastate a family. Jamie continues working at home in Hawaii and caring for the other children, but both incomes are necessary for their family.

Between hotel, food, transportation, and copays, they need close to $7000. Add in rent and utilities and food and car insurance etc and the costs are great.

I am humbly asking for your donation of any amount. This family, my family is amazing. They serve others with their whole heart and now they need help. Prayers are greatly appreciated along with whatever you can spare.

Thank you for reading.

Zahava Zaidoff (Zee)