Help with Hope's Surgeries

When I was diagnosed with Lipedema last year I didn't understand the disease, but I was well acquainted with the symptoms. It's a connective-tissue disease, which can be life-threatening from complications and/or when it advances and turns into Lymphedema. A vascular disorder, this is one of the most misdiagnosed diseases in the world. I was lucky to find a vascular surgeon who is experienced in diagnosing this disease and performing the surgeries necessary to eliminate the nodules that can deform the body, which mine have. There is no cure for the disease, only surgery and treatments to manage the disease.

This is a progressive disorder that is extremely painful, causes intense fatigue, memory loss, fluid build-up/inflammation, difficulty/inability to walk, and a constant release of toxins compromising the lymphatic and auto-immune systems.

These symptoms have plagued me for the past 8 years because my condition was undiagnosed. The past year the pain, and deforming of my body, bone crushing fatigue and aches like a constant flu have debilitated me.

What started it all? In August of 2016, our townhouse had a raw sewage flood from a broken pipe. The toxic acid vapors from the sewage invaded my lungs and that's when I first got sick. My twin daughters were 7 years old. I was diagnosed with toxic poisoning, which severely compromised my liver and gut, and subjected me to devastating pain and the inability to function or work. The end of 2017 gofundme.com was an absolute godsend for our family to help pay for medical and living expenses. In 2019 I returned to work — for a non-profit, which sadly ended during Covid in 2020.

At the same time the symptoms that we now know were Lipedema became definitively noticeable while my health and ability to function spiraled downward. Before all of this, I was the passionate, do-whatever-it-takes, get-it-done person that everyone wanted on their team. Now I am fighting more than ever the progression of this disease. And because of it I have barely been able to provide for my two amazing 14-year-old daughters.

In the past year the pain became unbearable and walking more than a block near impossible. That’s when I found the amazing doctor who correctly diagnosed me. Because this underlying condition was undiagnosed, it has progressed to the nightmare it is today — holding my body and my family’s life hostage. The doctor confirmed the disease is progressing quickly.

Friends and family have generously helped us from the beginning. I resisted doing this gofundme but cannot get these surgeries and take care of my children without help.

Each surgery is 3 hours long, and approximately $16,000. I will be using most of this fundraiser for the surgeries and some of it for much needed living expenses.

I will update regularly so everyone is aware of my progress. Thank you with all my heart for considering helping me and my girls get through this. If comfortable, please share this link. We are beyond grateful for everyone's help, and excited to have me living and working again.