Help Raise Funds For Nicki’s Home Care

Before I begin, if you are thinking of reaching out to my mom for words of support I will politely ask you refrain from this. It is very difficult for her to respond to messages of any kind right now as it takes a lot of energy. Instead you may comment kind words on the GoFundMe, or reach out to me personally and I will answer any questions and respond to any messages.

Thank you. ❤️

It all started with a chunk of carrot and a hair appointment. Sounds like the start of a bad joke, doesn’t it? Well let me tell you just how bad of a joke it was.

Now some of you may already know the whole story, some of you may only know bits and pieces, and for some of you this may be the first time hearing about it. And for that reason, I will start at the beginning:

Last year roughly around August my mom (Nicki Seidel) went to a hair appointment thinking she had a little chunk of carrot stuck in her throat. You know that feeling when you swallow something but it kinda gets wedged and you can feel it in your throat? That’s what she felt. At first. And at first she thought nothing of it and moved on with her life; hence going to the hair appointment. But then things gradually got worse. And worse. And worse.

Her symptoms became more severe and scary. She started getting tachycardia, which if you don’t know is a rapid heartbeat at random intervals during the day. She also developed a full body rash that made zero sense. As you can imagine this resulted in MULTIPLE hospital visits, and at one point a 911 call. Doctors were not helpful. Sent her home every time. Told her she’s crazy and it’s just anxiety. Her symptoms then shifted again. The tachycardia and rash mostly went away but she started getting swelling in her throat and face. She had an enlarged uvula. Felt like she was choking on food and drinks. Started not eating. Ringing in her ears. Pain in her jaw and face. Extreme joint pain. Losing weight at an extremely unhealthy rate due to only drinking Boost. Couldn’t talk for long periods. Couldn’t drive due to severe mental fog. Could barely walk. Had to take extended leave from her job.

My mom became a husk of who she once was before this all started. What began as a simple ‘stuck’ piece of carrot turned into a full blown nightmare. Countless doctor visits that proved useless and at times made things even worse. Doctors that didn’t listen to her. Medications that did not help and diagnoses that set us back MONTHS AND MONTHS before we could go forward. And an infinite amount of tears and bouts of depression. Thoughts that nobody should ever experience.

Just to put this into perspective, imagine feeling so sick that you can’t work, can’t drive, can’t eat because you feel like you are choking, can’t go places, can’t play with your grandchild, can’t do anything except sit in your house and just wait for it to all go away. To not know what is happening to her body and her mind. The unknown is terrifying. This is what my mom has experienced for an entire year of her life. Me, her daughter, have been unemployed for a good chunk of time during this. To take care of her. To be with her so she doesn’t choke, or worse. To just be AVAILABLE for her. To mend my own mental health that has plummeted as a result.

As a shining light, my step-dad Garry as many of you know; has paid for her to get in-home care since April 2024 to lift a little bit of the stress off my shoulders and his shoulders. It has not been cheap. It is not covered. That is what this Go Fund Me is for. To pay for the continued help she has needed every single day.

For those of you that personally know my mom as family or friends, you know what this has taken from her life. My mom has never been sick like this. She is the person who takes care of her kids and grandkids and animals. She is the momma bear. Not the other way around. She is also the most outgoing person I know. She is my best friend. Dancing is her life. Her grandchild Rhys is her heart. We need her back. This has been the worst year of her life. Of my life. Of our family’s life. At multiple points I thought I was going to lose my mom at any moment.

Thankfully we have finally reached a diagnoses (almost a year later) that seems to be the one. It is called Functional Neurological Disorder. There is a website called neurosymptoms.org that has been a fantastic resource I recommend you check out for more perspective and knowledge. Just because someone may seem okay and normal on the outside does not mean they are okay on the inside. Being shrugged off because most of her symptoms are not visible is the worst feeling in the world. My mom is not okay. She is not well. This is not a joke. Any time she may have seemed ‘normal’ has simply been a mask she has gotten very good at putting on just to help cope and protect her mental health. But she is tired. I would never wish this disorder on anybody. It is INSANE to me it took almost a year of my mom’s life away that she will never get back because of lack of due care and knowledge directed at our healthcare system.

The pictures provided are from before she ever got sick. They simply represent hope. Hope that my mom will get her life back and be able to enjoy things again. Hope is strong. Don’t ever give it up.

Thank you to anybody who is able to donate and please share this Go Fund Me if you are able. We truly appreciate any help to cover the continued costs of home care until she is better and able to be by herself again. And thank you for taking the time to read her story.

I love you mom. This will end soon. I promise you. ❤️