Help Hannie get her health back!

Hey, it’s Hanna. I am once again asking for your support (lol) in my ongoing struggle to be healthy again. Some of you may know that I’ve been dealing with chronic pain since 2016 after a kidney infection resulted in sepsis back in 2014. Up until August 21st of this year, it was a complete and total mystery. Well, we finally have the answer after two visits to the ER in August and a handful of doctor appointments: I have hydronephrosis with UPJ obstruction of the left kidney. Basically, my right kidney is a total badass- normal sized and working double time for my left kidney which is the size of a volleyball. It’s been determined that this issue is chronic (no kiddin!?) and the options for treatment at this time require at least two surgeries with several intense imaging procedures (kinda like mini-surgeries) in between.

I will be having my first surgery on Tuesday, September 5th- a stent placement that will hopefully alleviate some of the pain, lightheadedness, and other weird symptoms I’ve been experiencing since 8/3.

I will then have a MAG3 scan on the following Tuesday, September 12th, to assess the left kidney’s overall function.

From there, if the kidney is functioning below 20%, it will likely be removed (frickin yikes). If above 20%, we’re looking at probable reconstruction if possible.

The good: I finally know why I’ve been in SO MUCH pain over the past seven years of my life. My current symptoms (including hair loss lol wtf) will likely go away gradually once the blockage is cleared and my body can process food, electrolytes, etc. like normal. I have an incredible partner who loves me unconditionally and has stood by me for the last decade through the worst and best I’ve had to offer. I’ll be able to work again like a normal human being.

The bad: I have not worked a single day since June of 2022. I do not qualify for unemployment in the state we live because I’ve never worked here. I do not qualify for Medicaid because, well because they said so- yes, I have tried to apply and no, they said. This process will be months-long and I will need Brittney to be my sole caregiver since we don’t have friends or family in the area. She will likely need to take some kind of leave from her job to help me, and we cannot afford to be out any income we already have (see: first sentence in this section lol). This is another thing on top of all the things, and if life could just stop giving me these things(!!!) because we’re tapped out on things, y’all.

The ugly: medical costs in America are out of control. Knowing we have just one surgery around the corner (after two trips to the ER in two weeks, one of those via ambulance, and all the bills from all the tests we’ve done this month comin in HOT any day now) is enough to cause concern… but we know without a doubt that this is just the beginning. We need help. It sucks, but we do.

If you’re still reading this lol thank you! We are two incredible people that bad things happen to. If you love us and want to help, we do and will appreciate you beyond words. What we don’t need, however, is an influx of scrutiny and questions about our situation. We’ve done the math, we’ve gone down the avenues available, we’ve cried our tears for the situation and still come to the conclusion that we need help. We wouldn’t be asking if we didn’t. So, again, I thank you in advance for your support of our long journey, and I hope to be back up on my lil feets as soon as I possibly frickin can.

From the tops of our heads to the tips of our toes, with love and appreciation, Hanna & Brittney.