Help Sharla with Medical Expenses and Travel

Hello, friends. Sharla (Aldridge) Thilker is my very best friend from high school. She is going through some unexpected medical issues that will prevent her from working for at least the rest of this school year. Her husband Jared has been able to work from home for the past month to help her with daily functions, but they are unsure how much longer he will be able to do this. Sharla's dad is currently staying with them to help take care of their 13-year-old daughter, Korry. They also have two sons, Logan (18) and Blake (23). They will be traveling to the Mayo Clinic in MN the weekend of March 25, 2022 with the hope that they will find some definitive answers and treatment options. Donations to help with gas and hotel expenses are greatly appreciated. They also are experiencing a loss of Sharla's income for the next few months in addition to medical bills.

---

This is her story in her own words:

 

February 20, 2022: Several people have asked how I'm doing. For memory and prayer sake, I've decided to post.

 

The week before Christmas 2021, I tested positive for COVID-19. I had a couple of days of sinus issues, but nothing serious. After that, I was extremely weak, specifically in my right leg. The weakness worsened until I had drop foot and dead weight in my leg.

 

In early January, I went to physical therapy. My therapist said I should see my doctor because something wasn't right. Back and hip x-rays and MRI came back normal. So my primary referred me to a neurologist in St. Louis. Dr. Young at Motion Orthopaedics wanted to do spinal testing. He believed that I contracted an autoimmune disease from COVID.

 

On February 11, I had a spinal tap (to take spinal fluid) and myelogram (where they shoot dye into my back to do CT scans). They also took blood.

 

On February 12, I got severe spinal headaches and couldn't sit up without being sick. On February 13, I spent six hours in the ER due to headaches.

 

On February 15, I got a blood patch. They took my blood and inserted it where the needle was from the spinal tap. This would help the blood to clot and allow the spinal fluid not to leak. (Which caused the headaches.) Spinal tap results were normal. Dr. Young referred me to another neurologist to do muscle testing. I was still having trouble walking and moving my leg in general. I would appreciate your prayers for answers and healing.

 

March 5, 2022: I decided it was probably time to give another update on myself. For those who don't know, I saw a second neurologist, Doctor Snyder, in Fenton Missouri on Friday, February 25. He was very concerned and perplexed about my situation. He ordered an MRI of the spinal cord for the following Thursday. On that Sunday night, I started having a lot of pain in both legs. We called the neurologist's office on Monday morning, and he decided to admit me. I stayed in the SSM Health St Clare hospital in Fenton, Missouri. The doctor decided to treat me with steroids after multiple tests and another spinal tap. Yesterday, he decided that the steroids seemed to be working remarkably well, so hopefully, we are on the road to recovery. However, I have been very nauseous and haven't eaten anything in the past two days. Please pray that the treatment continues to work and that I get my appetite back.

 

March 23, 2022: I feel like it's time for another real-life post. My weakness is the worst it's been. At my follow-up this week, my neurologist didn't have answers or solutions. He is frustrated and perplexed.

 

I am on FMLA and not working for the rest of the school year. That breaks my ❤.

We all decided Mayo in MN is my next step. Jared and I will leave Sunday in hopes of waiting (literally) for a cancelation. We were told this is more productive than waiting for an appointment. I don't have weeks to be seen with the way things are declining. Mobility is rough!

 

Thankfully my dad is here to help with Korry. She is in great hands! If you see her, please love on her. This is hard for all of us. Please pray! We need a miracle that only God can provide.

---

Please consider donating to help this wonderful family!