<div>You can also donate here to avoid fees:
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<div>Venmo: @Larissa-Bracken
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<div>We never thought our family would find ourselves needing to ask for help again, but here we are, reaching out with honesty, hope, and no other choice.
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<div>Our 16-year-old daughter, Macie, has been diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). FND is a brain and nervous system disorder that affects how the brain sends and receives signals throughout the body. Although it has historically been misunderstood—and many patients are wrongly dismissed as “faking” their symptoms—ongoing research continues to show that FND is a very real, brain-based neurological condition. The symptoms are real, debilitating, and life-altering.
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<div>Macie’s symptoms include:
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<div>Non-epileptic seizures (on bad days, she can have up to 30 per day) Severe gait issues (she currently relies on a wheelchair most days) Speech and swallowing difficulties
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<div>Hearing and vision issues
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<div>Brain fog, memory loss and cognitive challenges
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<div>Tics, muscle spasms, episodes of paralysis
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<div>Before FND, Macie was a gymnast—strong, active, and constantly on the move. To see her go from doing what she loved to struggling with basic mobility has been heartbreaking beyond words. We have done everything we can to get Macie help. She has seen multiple specialists across different departments and has been evaluated through five different hospitals. Along the way, she has also received additional diagnoses, including PANS (with mold toxicity and Lyme infections) and POTS, which have added layers of complexity to her care and ultimately led us to where we are today. There is so much more to this journey than we can fully explain here—we could write so much more—but we want to keep this as clear and concise as possible.
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<div>There is currently no cure for these diagnoses. Treatments focus on managing symptoms and retraining the nervous system, and what works can vary by patient. With the right, individualized treatment plan, Macie may be able to reach remission or learn how to better live with and manage the disabilities she now faces. At this stage, most treatment options covered by insurance have been exhausted. Our team at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago has recommended we seek treatment elsewhere due to the complex nature of her case. Macie’s care now requires us to focus on therapies that address nervous system regulation and brain retraining—a critical component in treating FND. These therapies are highly specialized, largely out of pocket, and often require travel, including the possibility of extended stays out of state.
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<div>The financial reality is overwhelming:
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<div>**For links and costs for treatment options, see the updates section. I will be adding information there.**
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<div>Many online therapies cost around $400 per session, more intensive treatment programs can cost up to $50,000 (for one stay), and that does not include lodging and travel costs. We are committed to being thoughtful and responsible with the support we receive. We plan to pursue the most accessible and affordable treatment options first in hopes of getting Macie the quickest relief possible, while continuing to work toward more intensive therapies as we are able.
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<div>Because of her symptoms, Macie has had to stop attending school in person and transition to homeschooling, which has been extremely difficult due to memory loss and cognitive challenges. She can no longer drive or experience the independence most 16-year-olds enjoy. As parents, watching this happen to our child has been devastating. We want Macie to have the chance to feel like a teenager again—to regain independence, confidence, and quality of life.
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<div>If you can donate, share this page, or keep Macie in your thoughts and prayers, please know how deeply grateful we are. Your support allows us to keep fighting for her and reminds us that we are not alone.
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<div>Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
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<div>Lacey, Dan, Macie, Teagan, and Molly Bracken
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Stanton Zelek

Mary Kate Dunne

Joe Leddy

Lia Goyer

Kevin Coakley

Frances Derosa

Collette Schoper

Ann Wysocki

John Leen

Mark Hermes

Help Macie regain her independence

Help Macie regain her independence

Still $23,399 to go. Help us build momentum.