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- J
Caitlin's Medical Fund
0% complete
$2,671 raised of $50K
55 donations
A little about myself...
My name is Caitlin, I am 25 years old and I have brain degenerative brain disease . I love to help people and animals. I try to donate something every year to the animal shelter. I finished school and got my CNA license at age 18. I wanted to be next to them, so I moved and got a job at Walmart. I was there for 6 years, I called out only when I felt like I’m at death's door or a family member died. I know how frustrating it is when a coworker called in.
I have 3 dogs:
Ginger- I am not sure what she is
Ellie- Chihuahua
Harley- German Shepherd
Medical history that has to do with DBD
In March of 2019, I had a grand mal seizure. I was transported by ambulance to the closest hospital, which was Memorial. This hospital did not do a CT or an MRI. They did labs and kept me overnight, but that was all.
On December 1, 2019, I went to the ER at the Erlanger hospital (it was for my kidneys). I mentioned the other hospital did not do a CT or an MRI, so Erlanger did a CT scan of my brain for me. The Radiologist asked if I had a concussion before. I told him no. He put in my chart, “Degenerative brain disease”. He told me, "We see it in a 40-year-old but not in a 24-year-old". Erlanger transported me to the downtown wing to be in the ICU.
On July 11, 2020, at around 8:30 pm. I had my 2nd grand mal. I was working on my mattress and my bf
roommate heard me cry out. He turned and saw that I had collapsed between the bed and nightstand and was violently convulsing. He got to me and got me clear of the obstruction. He said the convulsion lasted approximately a minute. When I stopped, he said I kept pushing my upper body up and breathing deeply. His brother had called the ambulance and my bf attempted to roll me over onto my stomach, but I kept throwing my arm out and stopping him. He finally got me rolled over and I started to become aware of my surroundings but did not know I had a seizure. He told me the whole episode lasted 3-5 minutes. I contacted my doctor the next day to inform her of what happened. She called the neurologist to see if she can see me sooner.
- The old appointment was 12/21/2020.
- The new appointment is 07/21/2020
Why am I making a GoFundMe?
I got points from being absent during my ER and ICU stay. I followed protocol. When I returned, I was contacting Sedgwick to take off my absences from missing work, (which is a headache). I was still in the process when Walmart fired me for my absences. I explained I was doing the company's protocol. I even showed proof. They still had to let me go. Keep in mind, I was a good worker and I barely called in, I stayed over, I came in on my vacation days and I was never written up or had any warnings before this. I have no income and health insurance anymore. I put in for unemployment in April, I have not heard back from them. I have tried many times to get in touch.
What is Degenerative brain disease?
Its an umbrella term for any disease that makes the brain age faster, unnaturally, and abnormally. My brain is shrinking from neurons dying.
How does Degenerative brain disease affect me?
I started to have a harder time saying words and spelling, a few years before the grand mal. I thought I was just getting dumb. I used to say, “I have deluxe blond moments”.
This is a list of the stuff that happens on and off, but it gets more frequent and keeps increasing the duration as time goes on:
1.) I can go from hot to cold instantly and numb later
2.) Hands and feet get cold, but they are warm to the touch (rest of the body is fine)
3.) Lose grip, at times
4.) Jerks
5.) Mild to severe shaking of hands and fingers when I am holding something or pointing to something texting etc.
6.) I start breathing slowly at times, I start to feel very sleepy and I must try my best to stay here in the present. Like I am low on oxygen
7.) Forget words like toothbrushes. I will say something like, “the thing you brush your teeth with”
8.) Forgetting how to spell and speak simple words like “Problem” or “brother”
9.) Difficult to recall a day ago or sometimes videos I just watched
10.) My legs buckle and start to tremor when pressure is applied
11.) Forgetting I have seen something
12.) Hard to read because I am having trouble pronouncing words
13.) Hard to read numbers
14.) Hard to write or spell something someone is telling me to
15.) Forgetting what I am saying as I am talking and forgetting what other people told me
16.) My jaw jerks as I talk
17.) I think I’m talking loudly but no one can hear me even if they put their ear right next to my mouth.
18.) Mood swings
19.) Dizziness
20.) Bad headaches in the front and top of my head.
21.) I get irritated easily which is out of character for me.
22.) Daily hallucinations
23.) Forgetting where I am
24.) Forgetting where I placed things
25.) My hands and feet get cold to the touch. I even stay cold in 90-degree weather.
26.) My right-hand feels like its burning and it turns red. My fingers swell and also turns red.
.... and more
This money will help pay for my brain biopsy, my medical bills, my medical treatment, and medicines. Hopefully soon ill have more resources as well.
I do have pictures and videos to post. I will keep everyone up to date. I cannot explain how much it would mean to my family and me to donate at least $1 or just share this. So, again... please help me see 30. I do not want my dad and grandparents to have to bury me. I do not want them going through that pain, but hopefully, with everyone's help, they might not have to. My thanks to everyone that reads this post... from the bottom of my heart.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ij7bz4rhledwkya/MRIslow_Slomo1.mp4?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/72ahnvsbkl55mbe/IMG_3138.MOV?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8qalfucujt0p0c6/MRIC22slow_Slomo.mp4?dl=0
My name is Caitlin, I am 25 years old and I have brain degenerative brain disease . I love to help people and animals. I try to donate something every year to the animal shelter. I finished school and got my CNA license at age 18. I wanted to be next to them, so I moved and got a job at Walmart. I was there for 6 years, I called out only when I felt like I’m at death's door or a family member died. I know how frustrating it is when a coworker called in.
I have 3 dogs:
Ginger- I am not sure what she is
Ellie- Chihuahua
Harley- German Shepherd
Medical history that has to do with DBD
In March of 2019, I had a grand mal seizure. I was transported by ambulance to the closest hospital, which was Memorial. This hospital did not do a CT or an MRI. They did labs and kept me overnight, but that was all.
On December 1, 2019, I went to the ER at the Erlanger hospital (it was for my kidneys). I mentioned the other hospital did not do a CT or an MRI, so Erlanger did a CT scan of my brain for me. The Radiologist asked if I had a concussion before. I told him no. He put in my chart, “Degenerative brain disease”. He told me, "We see it in a 40-year-old but not in a 24-year-old". Erlanger transported me to the downtown wing to be in the ICU.
On July 11, 2020, at around 8:30 pm. I had my 2nd grand mal. I was working on my mattress and my bf
roommate heard me cry out. He turned and saw that I had collapsed between the bed and nightstand and was violently convulsing. He got to me and got me clear of the obstruction. He said the convulsion lasted approximately a minute. When I stopped, he said I kept pushing my upper body up and breathing deeply. His brother had called the ambulance and my bf attempted to roll me over onto my stomach, but I kept throwing my arm out and stopping him. He finally got me rolled over and I started to become aware of my surroundings but did not know I had a seizure. He told me the whole episode lasted 3-5 minutes. I contacted my doctor the next day to inform her of what happened. She called the neurologist to see if she can see me sooner.
- The old appointment was 12/21/2020.
- The new appointment is 07/21/2020
Why am I making a GoFundMe?
I got points from being absent during my ER and ICU stay. I followed protocol. When I returned, I was contacting Sedgwick to take off my absences from missing work, (which is a headache). I was still in the process when Walmart fired me for my absences. I explained I was doing the company's protocol. I even showed proof. They still had to let me go. Keep in mind, I was a good worker and I barely called in, I stayed over, I came in on my vacation days and I was never written up or had any warnings before this. I have no income and health insurance anymore. I put in for unemployment in April, I have not heard back from them. I have tried many times to get in touch.
What is Degenerative brain disease?
Its an umbrella term for any disease that makes the brain age faster, unnaturally, and abnormally. My brain is shrinking from neurons dying.
How does Degenerative brain disease affect me?
I started to have a harder time saying words and spelling, a few years before the grand mal. I thought I was just getting dumb. I used to say, “I have deluxe blond moments”.
This is a list of the stuff that happens on and off, but it gets more frequent and keeps increasing the duration as time goes on:
1.) I can go from hot to cold instantly and numb later
2.) Hands and feet get cold, but they are warm to the touch (rest of the body is fine)
3.) Lose grip, at times
4.) Jerks
5.) Mild to severe shaking of hands and fingers when I am holding something or pointing to something texting etc.
6.) I start breathing slowly at times, I start to feel very sleepy and I must try my best to stay here in the present. Like I am low on oxygen
7.) Forget words like toothbrushes. I will say something like, “the thing you brush your teeth with”
8.) Forgetting how to spell and speak simple words like “Problem” or “brother”
9.) Difficult to recall a day ago or sometimes videos I just watched
10.) My legs buckle and start to tremor when pressure is applied
11.) Forgetting I have seen something
12.) Hard to read because I am having trouble pronouncing words
13.) Hard to read numbers
14.) Hard to write or spell something someone is telling me to
15.) Forgetting what I am saying as I am talking and forgetting what other people told me
16.) My jaw jerks as I talk
17.) I think I’m talking loudly but no one can hear me even if they put their ear right next to my mouth.
18.) Mood swings
19.) Dizziness
20.) Bad headaches in the front and top of my head.
21.) I get irritated easily which is out of character for me.
22.) Daily hallucinations
23.) Forgetting where I am
24.) Forgetting where I placed things
25.) My hands and feet get cold to the touch. I even stay cold in 90-degree weather.
26.) My right-hand feels like its burning and it turns red. My fingers swell and also turns red.
.... and more
This money will help pay for my brain biopsy, my medical bills, my medical treatment, and medicines. Hopefully soon ill have more resources as well.
I do have pictures and videos to post. I will keep everyone up to date. I cannot explain how much it would mean to my family and me to donate at least $1 or just share this. So, again... please help me see 30. I do not want my dad and grandparents to have to bury me. I do not want them going through that pain, but hopefully, with everyone's help, they might not have to. My thanks to everyone that reads this post... from the bottom of my heart.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ij7bz4rhledwkya/MRIslow_Slomo1.mp4?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/72ahnvsbkl55mbe/IMG_3138.MOV?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8qalfucujt0p0c6/MRIC22slow_Slomo.mp4?dl=0