Hello, my name is Meghan and my husband James and I have been led to create this gofundme to help raise money for the life saving surgery that I need. A little bit about me: I am a full time student and I'll be graduating from UNT Dallas in the Spring with a degree in teaching. James is my amazingly supportive husband, an awesome pre-k teacher, and loving dad/bonus dad. Together we have 4 kids, Andrew, Sophie, Jackson, and Lorelei.

About my disease:

In 2023 I was diagnosed with Eagle Syndrome, a rare disease, after struggling with years of chronic pain and headaches. Eagle Syndrome is characterized by elongated calcified styloid process bones, the little bones everyone has in the back of their skull. It is not fully known what causes my condition. My calcified styloids have broken off the base of my skull and are compressing both of my Jugular veins. I also need additional sinus surgeries on my left side (deviated septum and reconstructing turbinates). I am also missing my left Transverse sinus vein in my head as well as veins, nerves, and arteries being twisted up in ways they shouldn’t be. These things altogether cause debilitating, life-depleting symptoms. A few of the more serious symptoms I deal with are: severe headaches, pulsatile tinnitus, neck and throat pain, intracranial hypertension, heart palpitations, vertigo, and nerve pain, to name a few. Eagle Syndrome is a progressive disease which means it will only get worse with time. As my disease progresses, the risk for my jugular veins and arteries to sever increases and this leads to the possibility of stroke or sudden death.

By the grace of God, I was able to retroactively get on my husband’s insurance. Though it is great news, we truly cannot afford the additional $900+ taken out of James’s check every month. As many of you know, I am a student and have had to step back from my photography job due to it being too physically hard on me to continue.

Currently we are using all donations to pay for the extra cost of my insurance, out of pocket virtual doctor appointments, diagnostic CT scans and ultrasounds I still need, and anything else related to my surgery.

My doctor specializes in the Vascular type of Eagle syndrome I have. His name is Dr. Hepworth and he’s located in Denver, Colorado. Dr. H has ordered a few more pre-surgery scans and will come up with a planned date for surgery for me within the next year.

Dr. H says my prognosis is good and he believed after surgery, I can get my quality of life back. He wants to decompress my jugular, complete a left styloidectomy, 2 sinus surgeries, and untangle my veins/arteries/nerves in my neck to allow for proper blood flow and function.

If you cannot donate, we completely understand! If you can, we are so incredibly thankful to you. Above all, we ask you to please keep praying for us! Please pray that I can remain stable until surgery, and for God's will and provision in my surgery date. I know the Lord will provide as He has done time and time again for us. Please share our GoFundMe if you feel led to as well!

In John 16:33 Jesus says,

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Our hope is in Jesus and we will choose to count it all joy, even the pain and suffering. Thank you for taking the time to read our story.