
Help Fund Critical Surgery and Recovery
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Oh my goodness I don't want to do this!! I don't want to have to make a go fund me and I don't really want to go through the surgery. Unfortunately, I have no choice but to go through surgery to basically to save my life or should I say to give me quality of life.
My story starts the minute I took my first breath. I was born with part of my small intestine dead. I had two major surgeries before I was even three days old. That's where it all began. I have had partial balance obstructions since about 2 years old . Back then they would tell my mom that I had the flu. She said I would cry and be in so much pain sometimes for as much as a month or longer. I've been dealing with them for years. They've always corrected themselves as long as I can go to the hospital ,get fluids and not eat or drink anything. They are extremely painful but they give me pain meds.
The day after Thanksgiving this year, I had what I thought was another partial obstruction. There are times when I can stop eating and drinking and just try to lay there to get better and it'll correct itself. This time after waiting excruciating eight hours I finally went to the ER. I told them that I was having a partial bowel obstruction and of course I've had so many they knew I could basically diagnose myself. Sad but true. I just assumed it would be the same old routine as it usually has. They did the CT scan confirming I had an obstruction .At this point they had me on pain meds so I I just assumed it would be the same routine partial obstruction. I didn't ask them why they said a bowel obstruction and not a partial. I also wasn't shocked when he told me he was going to admit me. However, finally, I decided to ask him exactly what my CT scan had read. He told me very clear that I had a full bowel obstruction and if they didn't get it under control, I was having emergency surgery. I stayed in the ER the majority of the day into the evening because they had no beds.
I finally made it onto a room. Things seem to be going OK until they weren't. One of my daughters was there and I feel so bad because she was very traumatized over what happened. I started going downhill very fast. They had to get ICU in to get a NG tube in me immediately. It was the worst thing I've ever felt even with all the medication they gave me , swallowing the NG tube was excruciating. Every time I moved, I threw up profusely. However I was very lucky but they were able to help me. My night nurse was horrific, but my other nurses were great.
After that, I had to meet with my gastroenterologist and he made it very clear that I needed to see a surgeon. He sent me to a surgeon where I had a very detailed heart-to-heart with her. I was incredibly impressed because not only did she not ask me why I was there. She had read my reports from birth on. My medical records are like a book ,a thick book. She made it very clear that I needed surgery to remove the adhesions. Not only do I need to remove the adhesions but she thinks that I may have to have my small bowel resected again. The surgery scares the hell out of me. It scares me because she can't tell me what's going to happen and I wont know anything until I wake up. I am independent home healthcare provider so yes I have the Oregon health plan, but I don't have any income coming in when I am not working. I don't qualify for FML or temporary disability. Life sure can change in an instant. I'm so used to helping others. Not only is that what I do for a living, but I'm always try to help others and of course fur babies
I don't ask for help and it's really hard for me to ask for help but at this point I have to get the surgery done and if I don't have money to pay my bills while I'm recovering and I can't do it the surgery. I'm trying to work as much as possible, not really eat a lot and being so careful so that I don't have to have an emergency surgery. I meet with my surgeon in July and I'm planning on doing my surgery in September. I know everybody's struggling so I don't have the expectation that someone will help but if you can, I would really appreciate it.
The surgery could last to six hours or longer. She said she will remove as many adhesions as possible, most likely resect my bowel and I could end up with an ostomy. I can also be in the ICU for a while. I am absolutely terrified to have the surgery done, but my quality of life hasn't been great and afraid it's going to get worse. I am busting my butt to work as much as possible.
My doctor made it very clear that if I had the surgery, I have to relax and let myself heal. There's no way I can relax and let myself heal.If I'm stressing over how I'm going to make it financially . Luckily I own my car so I don't have a car payment . Although how much she's broke down, I might as well have a car payment ♀️♀️.
I understand if you can't help, but I thought I would at least try to see if I can get a little help before September. Thank you for listening to my long drawn out saga of my life. I hate that I even have to do this at all and I have been putting it off for a while now. I am swallowing my pride, which is really hard. Basically I'm stuffing it down really hard.
Organizer

Joan Gaither
Organizer
West Linn, OR