Help Stacey Get to the Mayo Clinic for Medical Care

Hello Everyone,

My name is Stacey Lewis. After years of being poked and prodded by the local and surrounding medical field experts, it is time to seek a higher level of care. That level of care comes at a cost I can not pay without you. Mayo does not accept my medical insurance which leaves an out-of-pocket, upfront initial deposit of $5,000. This will cover the initial 3-7 days of visits, tests, and/or hospitalization. If they can determine the root cause of my ongoing and growing symptoms within that time frame, the $5k will cover it. However, should I need to be seen for further investigation and/or hospitalization, it will be another $5,000. This does not cover the flight, hotel, car, and food in Rochester, MN.

I humbly request your financial support in getting me to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. As Princess Leia would say, “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; You’re My Only Hope.”

Ways to Give: This GoFundMe Page

Venmo - @Stacey-Lewis-89

PayPal - @slewis0708

CashApp- $slewis0708

Let me share my story with you. At age 18 I was diagnosed with Addison’s disease. This is where the adrenal glands fail to function. I had been misdiagnosed from age 14 until a true diagnosis at 18. I also had a hypothyroidism diagnosis at age 16. These diagnoses were the beginning of a long battle with chronic illness. With multiple compounding illnesses to follow, I’ll list them to fast forward to today and why it is vital to be seen at the Mayo Clinic at age 49.

Diagnosis as of today is as follows:

Addison’s disease - 1994

Arthritis - 2009

Asthma - 2012

Bulging Discs/Scoliosis - 2006

Chronic Gastritis - 1995

Disc degenerative Disease - 2006

Early CHF/CAD/Coronary Atherosclerosis - 2022-2023

Endometriosis - 2007

Fibromyalgia - 2009

Hietal Hernia - 2018

Hypothyroidism - 1992

Meningioma / left parietal lobe - 2013

Osteopenia - 2019

Ovarian cysts - historically since 2010

Seasonal Allergies -Allergy Testing 2019

Sleep Apnea - 2016

Spinal Stenosis - 2013

Type II Diabetes - 2018

At this point I’m sure you're questioning, how is she even alive? Well, that would be by the grace and mercy of a loving Heavenly Father! Jesus has been my shelter through every storm. I have kept my ongoing chronic illnesses mostly hidden from the majority of the folks in and around my life. I can no longer hide my pain and suffering in the shadows praying to make it through one more day. I am reaching out for your help.

The breaking point began in mid-2021 with swollen lymph nodes in my head and neck, raw throat, and an internal rash on my throat. I was hospitalized multiple times with no resolution as to why it kept and continues reoccurring to this day. This led to rounds of antibiotics and high levels of steroids to function daily. Let me explain the need for high levels of steroids. The only known treatment for Addison’s Disease is steroids. This means a daily dose of steroids to stay alive. Every time I get sick in any way the dose of steroids must increase to compete with the level of infection in my body. Without this increase, the infection would overtake my body resulting in death.

Fast-forwarding to October 2022, I had been pushing myself to continue to appear to be normal by attending events, serving my community, and maintaining a full-time work schedule. However, I had been living on caffeine and steroids. My heart muscle decided it was too much to continue its normal functioning. I was life-flighted to a hospital in Nashville. I was in an adrenal crisis and suffered a heart attack that damaged my heart. I had to stop working, sell my home, pay down debt, and move in with my sister. The last long-term disability check from my policy I received was in April 2024. My only source of funds for gas, food, and medicine, has been the generosity of my parents, friends, and family.

Here we are in July 2024, on the lowest maintenance dosage possible to treat Addison’s Disease. My strength and stamina have not returned. Daily, I face heart irregularities despite being on medication to maintain a reasonable heart rate and blood pressure. Along with and not limited to the following: overwhelming fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, joint and body pain, muscle spasms, dizziness, ringing in my ears, swollen lymph nodes, swallowing issues, throat sores, thinning skin, hypermobility resulting in random falls, brain fog, memory loss, insomnia, IBS, and dehydration. Since December of 2023, I have fought off Covid, bronchitis, Flu B twice, sinus infection, and strep twice. I desperately need a doctor to take a deep dive into what is happening to my body. The decline is gut-wrenching. This is not living.

I humbly request your financial support in getting me to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Once again -- As Princess Leia would say, “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; You’re My Only Hope.”

Ways to Give:

This GoFundMe Page

Venmo - @Stacey-Lewis-89

PayPal - @slewis0708

CashApp- $slewis0708