Hello, my name is Myla, and I'm reaching out on behalf of my daughter, Nerissa, who needs urgent medical help and support.

In January 2023, Nerissa suffered a stroke that changed her life forever. Since then, she has faced an uphill battle with her health, and the road ahead remains uncertain. She’s been diagnosed with several serious conditions, including Atrial Fibrillation, Behçet’s disease, vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Behçet’s and vascular EDS are both rare, chronic, and incurable diseases that have affected every part of her body and are debilitating.

In the last six months alone, Nerissa has undergone multiple surgeries, including the implantation of a cardiac device, the placement of a venous access port, and numerous other medical procedures. She undergoes weekly treatments to manage her condition.

Recently, due to hospital negligence, Nerissa’s port became infected, and she had to undergo emergency surgery. During this procedure, the vascular surgeon discovered necrosis, further complicating her condition. Nerissa is scheduled for another surgery next week to replace the port in a different location.

As if her medical challenges weren’t enough, she is still responsible for the copays and deductibles from these surgeries and treatments, and she must cover these costs until the legal matters surrounding the hospital’s negligence are settled.

Nerissa currently has a medical team of nine doctors, who have done everything they can, but believe the root cause of Nerissa’s health struggles is also something even rarer, something they can’t yet identify. She has now been referred to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL to be seen starting May 8. This is Nerissa’s last hope for a correct diagnosis — and potentially, the key to saving her life.

Nerissa is a proud U.S. Air Force veteran, where she served as an Aerospace mechanic until she medically retired in December 2020. Nerissa and her husband Austin now face immense financial strain while caring for their 5 children, including her son, Titus Lee, who tragically passed away in 2016.

The costs associated with getting Nerissa the care she needs are overwhelming. The expenses for surgeries, treatments, medical bills, and legal fees due to hospital negligence are already astronomical. The upcoming trip to the Mayo Clinic will incur significant additional costs for travel, lodging, and continued medical care. Due to the complexity of her diagnosis, her medical team of doctors is not with the V.A., and this has made it very hard to get help from them with the extra expenses not covered by her insurance.

Every dollar raised will go directly toward covering these medical expenses and ensuring that Nerissa can get to the Mayo Clinic for her diagnosis and care. Lodging and flight expenses alone for the week she has to be at Mayo Clinic is $2600. This doesn't include any medical bills. We understand that times are tough for many, but any support you can offer — whether it’s a donation, prayer, or sharing this campaign with others — would mean the world to us. Nerissa has already faced so much in her life, and we are hopeful that with the correct full diagnosis and treatment, she can begin to heal and live a better life.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Your support, prayers, and generosity will make all the difference in Nerissa’s fight for health and hope.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Nerissa's mama, Myla, and our family