A Miracle For Mandee

PLEASE HELP MANDEE GET TO BARCELONA 

Imagine laying in your hospital bed after 38 surgeries, endless Emergency Room visits and Hospital visits- day after a day of poking, and suffering, and worrying about when your husband and children. When finally, you crawl into bed and your daughter crawls into the hospital bed with, carefully avoiding all the tubes and wires, and she says “Mommy, I don’t want God to take you to heaven. I want you here. I need you here. We can’t live without you.”

Imagine the pain of trying to comfort your children, when you know that the only thing holding you back from receiving a miracle, is money. It is truly something out out of a movie. One woman. 38 surgeries. Two special needs kiddos. A woman of faith. One who serves her community and intercedes first many without ever asking for anything in return. This is her, and this is my friend. This is very real- to real, and it’s time for action. 

My name is Jason Merriam and Mandee is my friend.  Mandee needs your help, but due to her medical conditions, I have stepped in the hopes that my words can get you to understand that gravity of Mandees condition and why we must help this family. I need your help to save my friend Mandees life. She isn’t one to ask for help, so I will ask for her. 

I first met Mandee when I was diagnosed with Tethered Cord Syndrome, Syringomyelia, Chiari Malformation and Idiopathic Scoliosis. Mandee was one of the first people to reach out to me. When you are diagnosed with Rare Diseases like we share, you have to become your own Doctor. I had no idea what to do. I had no idea where to go. Every doctor that saw me told me there was nothing wrong. Just as in Mandees case, they were wrong about me too. So I joined all of the support groups on Facebook I could, and it was there that I first met Mandee.

This was in 2015. Mandee was always one of the first to reach out to people when they were being turned away, yet were so sick that they lost everything. It is because of Mandee that I was able to understand what was happening to me, and why no doctor where I live would help me. Mandee is a warrior. But now Mandee is the one who needs help. Mandee met her soulmate Elliott in 1997. Together, they have two beautiful young children, Bella and Xavier. If there is such a thing as an angel on Earth, Mandee is one of them. Always doing what she can to help others. I am not alone. I am sure that once this fundraising effort starts, you are going to see the size and scope of Mandee impact on peoples lives. While Mandee and I were discussing what she needs to stay alive, she told me how hard it was to find the words every day, to give to her children, when they ask the really tough questions. Can you imagine the pain in those conversations? Trying to find the words, while protecting your children for something that can be avoided. 

There is good news. Through other means, Mandee and Elliott were able to come up with 1/4 of what is required. Now it is up to us to help Mandee get the care she needs. The medical system here has failed her. She must travel to Barcelona Spain. They are waiting for her. Please, donate if you can. If you cannot, share this, and ask that others donate.  This is the time of year when we give thanks for what we have. This is the time of year when families get together and show their love for each other. For this family, it is not possible because of the serious condition Mandee is in. Elliott works at night, while Mandee lays in the hospital, afraid of the next time her daughter, or her son asks about her death. IT CAN BE AVOIDED, but to avoid it, Mandee needs our help. This family cannot be broken up over money. This family cannot be broken up, because the doctors here in America have failed her. Look at your children, or your nieces and nephews and think about what it is like to have to explain to them what death is. We can save her. We can come together and save this family from ruin. Can we come together and help this woman who is suffering get the care she needs, and all it takes it the amount of money it takes to buy a used pick up truck. We need to raise 30,000 dollars for this family. Please help me, help them, and save her. Below is a letter that Elliott, Mandees husband wrote. In her husbands words…….

“My wife always “has my six,” no matter what her struggles- and now I need to have hers in a really big way. She’s gone through more in her lifetime than anyone I’ve ever known, and more than anyone ever should, but we finally have a chance to improve her life, instead of watching a disease try to take it. In this moment, to be strong for her, I have to let go of my pride and humbly ask for others to help me, help her. She’s had 38 surgeries. Yes, 38, and now she needs a 39th surgery, and we can no longer prolong tis necessity. I need my wife. Our kids need their mother. This world needs her. The Syringomyelia Institute in Spain, is where she need to be. It is the only place in the world currently performing this surgery with a specific technique that makes this surgery possible to attempt on someone like Mandee. She has consulted with some of the top Neurosurgeons in the United States, and this is our only option.

After years of progressing symptoms since her brain was found herniated and lodged into her brainstem, the fluid filled cyst that collected inside the spinal cord began to grow rapidly. For nearly four years, she’s battled with the inability to swallow, bouts of waist down paralysis, severe wide spread pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, blood pressure fluctuations, heart rate mayhem, muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, vocal chord damage, vision disturbances, and yes, even more things- it is time to attack this thing and #WatchGodWork in Barcelona! 

If you know my wife, you know that her  spirit is infectious. Her name literally means “lovable.” She loves others with all she has. She battles so hard for others in so many ways.  She’s humble. She’s the first to help someone in need, and her passion for God, for others, and for life, is the reason why I chose her to be the witness to my life. She has a heart of gold. She’s compassionate, and even when she feels like she’s falling apart, she still manages to inspire others to keep it together. This world and I, need her to complete what God has started in and through her. She’s my beautiful angel. God has done great works in her and we thank Him for every miracle and we wait for one more. If you are not able to give financially, please consider sending this to your friends, churches, ministries, and any other person or group that may be able to help us make this opportunity another testimony to His promises and faithfulness!”

Sincerely, 
Elliott Clifton, Family, Friends & Fellow Warriors

We can do this. We can come together, and help this family. Now is the time of year when families gather and give thanks. They get together and open presents. Share those precious moments. But not Mandee, or her family. Instead, she is in and out of the hospital, her husband is working to provide and instead of getting their childrens list ready for Christmas, Mandee is still trying to find the words to answer her daughters question. This is not right. This is our chance to make a difference in someones life. Mandee has given so much. Now it is our turn to help Mandee. Help Elliott. And stop that terrible question from ever being uttered again from her daughter. If you cannot donate, please share, and ask others. We can do this. Together. 

Thank you.
Jason Merriam
Salt Lake City, Utah