Help Whitley Get to Italy for Life-Changing CRPS Treatment

My name is Jesse Heaton. Whitley is my sister-in-law, my brother Micah’s wife, and one of the toughest people I know. I’m writing this because Whitley and Micah would never ask for themselves—so I am asking for them.

Fifteen years ago, Whitley suffered a catastrophic fall from a second-story balcony, leaving her partially paralyzed on her right side. She spent a year on crutches relearning how to walk and was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a progressive and debilitating disease sometimes called “the suicide disease” because of the severity of suffering it inflicts. Over the years, CRPS has spread throughout her body, and she has endured multiple surgeries, each one giving the disease a new foothold.

Whitley built a fifteen-year career in Property Management, leading teams and supporting thousands of residents—all while living with CRPS. In 2023, her body could not do it anymore. She clocked out for the last time. Since then, her health has declined rapidly. She now spends most days in bed, unable to stand for more than a couple of hours, and pours everything she has into caring for her two young sons, Adyn (9) and Riven (4). Riven was born with complex bilateral clubfoot and is still in active treatment.

In the past 10 months, Whitley began suffering from frequent seizures and was recently diagnosed with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES), a neurological condition triggered by the trauma of CRPS. The seizures have become severe and frequent, often requiring emergency intervention. When they come in clusters, Whitley is left physically debilitated and unable to walk for days. Her husband Micah carries her to bed, to the bathroom, and uses a wheelchair to move her through the house when her body will not cooperate. Whitley is now fully disabled.

There is hope. In Italy, a treatment called Neridronate is available for CRPS. It is not FDA-approved in the U.S., but it has been a standard treatment in Italy since 2013. The CRPS Treatment Italy clinic in Vicenza offers a comprehensive program that has helped patients from around the world achieve significant improvement—and sometimes remission.

The cost for Whitley’s treatment program is $32,000, plus $8,000 for travel for Whitley and Micah. This covers the full treatment plan, travel, and six months of follow-up care. Whitley cannot travel alone due to her condition.

Thank you for reading this far. Thank you for caring about someone you may never meet. Whitley and her family carry more weight than most people will ever understand. Anything you can do to lighten that load matters more than you know. Any amount helps, and if you cannot give, sharing this campaign is just as valuable. We will post updates throughout Whitley’s treatment journey so you can see the impact of your generosity firsthand.

Thank you for keeping Whitley and her family in your thoughts.