Hope and Help for Cheyenne
For anyone who knows Cheyenne, you know that she has always been a happy, healthy person. After having some minor symptoms, and a family history of thyroid disease, at the age of 20 she was diagnosed with autoimmune Graves Disease. In an effort to keep those symptoms under control and increasing levels of thyroid medication, in 2012, her endocrinologist felt it best that her thyroid be removed. With a hope of reduced symptoms and a healthier life, Cheyenne agreed to have the surgery.
Fast forward to August 2017... Life for Cheyenne up to this point was going perfect. She was happily married, and now a mother of two beautiful children. Then the unexpected happened. Cheyenne suffered from not one, but two Grand Mal Seizures which both landed her in the hospital. She was referred to a neurologist who explained that the seizures were temporary onset due to deficient calcium levels. They also suspected that this deficiency was due to the damage to her calcium glands during the premature removal of her thyroid.
Since then, and through the beginning of 2019, Cheyenne suffered from over 10 Grand Mal seizures which have all landed her in the ER and transport via ambulance, as well as over 20 smaller seizures. She was on over 15 different types of medication a day. In September of 2019, after suffering yet another Grand Mal seizure, and still no clear answer as to why she continued to suffer from these, increased dosages of medication, Cheyenne made the decision to get a second opinion and took a leap of faith and contacted the MayoClinic. After submitting her request for appointment, Cheyenne received news that they would take her in for further testing.
In October of 2019, she took a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale Arizona. By the end of the first appointment, a series of tests were ordered, but this time the tests were different, and finally, she had hope for answers. After a 48 hour at home EEG, on Monday October 14th, 2019, Cheyenne received the diagnosis of FCD or Focal Cortical Dysplasia, which is congenital abnormality of brain development where the brain failed to properly form in utero and in simpler terms, it is drug resistant epilepsy. This means that Cheyenne has had this her whole life, and it will be a life long condition and this condition makes her resistant to medication. Since receiving the diagnosis, she has started a new course of treatment which includes 10 weeks of reducing medication dosages until they are at a therapeutic level, then slowly weaning her off of all the other medication. Should this treatment plan fail, the next option wold be for her to undergo brain surgery.
Due to the ongoing care, visits to doctors, emergency room visits, medication, travel to as well as continued care with the Mayo Clinic has caused great financial hardships for Cheyenne and her family. She has not been able to work for months, leaving her husband to be the sole financial support for the household. However, the with the cost of living for the family of 4 as well as continued incoming medical bills, and cost of medication, the family is asking for your help. Insurance only covers a small portion of the continuous incoming bills that Cheyenne is receiving, with them ranging anywhere from $500-$2000 per bill so far.
Anything that you can contribute will help. Funds raised will cover
-Current and overdue medical bills
-Incoming medical bills
-Cost of current medication
-Cost of continued treatment needed through doctors in Hilo as well asat the Mayo clinic (Cheyenne will need to travel to Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale Arizona once every 2-3 months for testing)
Again, anything helps. We are also asking for you to pray over her and her family.
Thank you!