Help my sister become dizzy free!
Donation protected
For more than 20 years, my sister Jen has been suffering from a vestibular disorder called vestibular migraine. Her symptoms started within months of being involved in a car accident in which she was rear ended at at high rate of speed.
On a daily basis, she has symptoms that range from aggravating to debilitating. Her symptoms include: feeling dizzy and off balance 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week, (Imagine getting off of a roller coaster or turbulent plane ride; that off balance, nauseated, yucky feeling; that’s how she often feels) headaches, neck aches, ear pain and a general feeling of being unwell. This disorder affects her everyday life; there are many activities she would love to do but can’t. During a “flare up” that can last days to months, she often can do little more than go to work and come home and rest. When she has a full blown vertigo attack, she is left debilitated, unable to get out of bed for days at a time.
For the past two decades, my sister has been seen/treated by countless doctors and specialists, trying to find the root of the disorder and an effective treatment. Some of the doctors she has seen and treatments she has tried include: Neurologists, ENT drs., chiropractic, massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, special diets and more. Many of these treatments have not been covered by insurance, and her family has spent thousands of dollars, searching for answers. For the past several months, Jen has been following a doctor she found on Instagram, Dr. Harcourt, a functional neurologist at a place called ImagineX in Santa Barbara, California. His treatment of migraine and concussion related brain disorders have been extremely successful. My sister has wanted to go to California to see him, but the treatment is not covered by her insurance and the travel expenses would be very expensive. Dr. Harcourt announced last week that he is offering 3 patients a chance to receive a week long intensive treatment program in central Pennsylvania in November, and today she was chosen as one of the three!!!!!!! This eliminates the cost of flying and reduces the cost of accommodations greatly. The amount of money we are asking for assistance with covers the cost of the program($5,500) and helps towards lodging/transportation costs.
Most people who know, or meet my sister often have no idea she suffers from such a debilitating disorder. Despite how bad she is feeling, she tries very hard not to focus on the negative and maintains a good attitude about life. She suffers in silence, and only those of us who are closest to her understand how greatly this impacts her life and family. My sister feels she has been a physical and financial burden on her family (even though WE know she is the very best mom, wife, aunt, sister, friend in the world) and would like nothing better than to get well and start living a healthier, fuller life. There is no guarantee that the treatment willl work, but the success rate for patients like her is around 80%. She is hopeful and excited (I screamed out loud when I heard the news. Then I cried!); she has tried just about everything else there is to try for this disorder; one that isn’t easily understood/treated in the medical community. This opportunity feels like a “last chance” for her, and any financial assistance towards this opportunity would be greatly appreciated !
For those of you who know ME, you know there’s no one I love more than my sissy. I would move mountains for her! To see her feeling better and living the life I KNOW she deserves.....it would be beyond words. I’d offer to pay every single cent if there was enough overtime at the U to make it happen! Thank you!
On a daily basis, she has symptoms that range from aggravating to debilitating. Her symptoms include: feeling dizzy and off balance 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week, (Imagine getting off of a roller coaster or turbulent plane ride; that off balance, nauseated, yucky feeling; that’s how she often feels) headaches, neck aches, ear pain and a general feeling of being unwell. This disorder affects her everyday life; there are many activities she would love to do but can’t. During a “flare up” that can last days to months, she often can do little more than go to work and come home and rest. When she has a full blown vertigo attack, she is left debilitated, unable to get out of bed for days at a time.
For the past two decades, my sister has been seen/treated by countless doctors and specialists, trying to find the root of the disorder and an effective treatment. Some of the doctors she has seen and treatments she has tried include: Neurologists, ENT drs., chiropractic, massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, special diets and more. Many of these treatments have not been covered by insurance, and her family has spent thousands of dollars, searching for answers. For the past several months, Jen has been following a doctor she found on Instagram, Dr. Harcourt, a functional neurologist at a place called ImagineX in Santa Barbara, California. His treatment of migraine and concussion related brain disorders have been extremely successful. My sister has wanted to go to California to see him, but the treatment is not covered by her insurance and the travel expenses would be very expensive. Dr. Harcourt announced last week that he is offering 3 patients a chance to receive a week long intensive treatment program in central Pennsylvania in November, and today she was chosen as one of the three!!!!!!! This eliminates the cost of flying and reduces the cost of accommodations greatly. The amount of money we are asking for assistance with covers the cost of the program($5,500) and helps towards lodging/transportation costs.
Most people who know, or meet my sister often have no idea she suffers from such a debilitating disorder. Despite how bad she is feeling, she tries very hard not to focus on the negative and maintains a good attitude about life. She suffers in silence, and only those of us who are closest to her understand how greatly this impacts her life and family. My sister feels she has been a physical and financial burden on her family (even though WE know she is the very best mom, wife, aunt, sister, friend in the world) and would like nothing better than to get well and start living a healthier, fuller life. There is no guarantee that the treatment willl work, but the success rate for patients like her is around 80%. She is hopeful and excited (I screamed out loud when I heard the news. Then I cried!); she has tried just about everything else there is to try for this disorder; one that isn’t easily understood/treated in the medical community. This opportunity feels like a “last chance” for her, and any financial assistance towards this opportunity would be greatly appreciated !
For those of you who know ME, you know there’s no one I love more than my sissy. I would move mountains for her! To see her feeling better and living the life I KNOW she deserves.....it would be beyond words. I’d offer to pay every single cent if there was enough overtime at the U to make it happen! Thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Deana Barrett
Organizer
Ypsilanti, MI
Jennifer Taylor
Beneficiary
