Izzy's Bronchial Thermoplasty Fund
Donation protected
Hi everyone. Let me take a little time to let you all know a little about me and why I'm asking for this. 10 years ago, right before my 13th birthday, I was diagnosed with severe persistent asthma.
I have had breathing problems ever since I was young but each time I have an attack and we made it to the doctors, it seemed the episode would go away. Although the doctors suspected that it was asthma, because I was so physically active, each time the test would come back inconclusive. The diagnosis came only by a stroke of luck. I had gone upstairs to pick up some ice cream for my brother’s party, and as I opened the freezer to pull out the ice cream and when the blast of cold air hit me, and that’s the last thing I really remember. I woke up at the hospital and the doctors telling my mom that I would need to see a specialist. After that it was every week spending it in and out of doctor’s offices, hospitals, and constantly not being able to breathe.
One of the most scariest attacks I've had was when I was 15. I had an attack that almost killed me. I don’t remember much about what happened and I only know what went on because of what my brother and mom have told me but I remember coming out of a movie theater and catching a small whiff of cigarette smoke. And that was enough. 30 or 40 minutes later, I was in the ER, after the doctors couldn’t get me to react to any of the medication, I was transferred to the ICU where the doctors informed my mom that I was not reacting to any medication and that she should say her goodbyes since they did not believe I would survive the night. I don’t really know how I did survive the night but I’m still here.
When most people think of asthma, they think of shortness of breath and with a few quick hits to an inhaler, it quickly goes away. I’m sad to say that it’s not true. I’ve now struggled in trying to live with asthma for 10 years and I have been on almost every kind of asthma medication including Albuterol, Proventil, Ventolin, Levalbuterol, Foradil, Spiriva, ipratropium bromide, Prednisone, Asmanex, Proair, Singular, Advair, Symbicort, Dexamethasone, Solu Medrol. It turns out that I’m allergic to some of the medications that are most common like adviar, symbicort, dexamethasone, and omeprazole. Because the only medicine that seems to keep my asthma at bay beyond the help of all the other medications I’m on that keep me alive is prednisone, it’s hard not to suffer the consequences that come along with the prolonged use of the drug. I have low iron, low calcium, I have now been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I have PTSD from all the near death experiences I’ve had due to my body not being able to breathe at any moment. I have severe sleep apnea; I’ve overweight due to medication weight, and many other health problems that have all stemmed out from taking prednisone for so long. Slowly but surely the asthma and all the medications that are supposed to keep me breathing are killing me.
I know that it sounds like I’m complaining, but the fact is I’m scared. I’m only 24 years old and as a newlywed, I should be worrying about things like what am I going to major in college or what am I going to cook for dinner for my new husband. I don’t feel like I should be worrying about making my new husband a widower, or that I might not be able to have children, or even reach my dreams of become a lawyer because I might die in a few years or whenever the next big attack may come. I live in constant fear of the next “big attack. ” After finding out that I am a perfect candidate for the bronchial thermoplasty, I was excited. However, I find myself in a hard spot where my insurance won’t pay for the procedure and it being the only thing that can save my life. I just want to have a second chance. So I can stay alive. So I can see my dreams come true.
I have had breathing problems ever since I was young but each time I have an attack and we made it to the doctors, it seemed the episode would go away. Although the doctors suspected that it was asthma, because I was so physically active, each time the test would come back inconclusive. The diagnosis came only by a stroke of luck. I had gone upstairs to pick up some ice cream for my brother’s party, and as I opened the freezer to pull out the ice cream and when the blast of cold air hit me, and that’s the last thing I really remember. I woke up at the hospital and the doctors telling my mom that I would need to see a specialist. After that it was every week spending it in and out of doctor’s offices, hospitals, and constantly not being able to breathe.
One of the most scariest attacks I've had was when I was 15. I had an attack that almost killed me. I don’t remember much about what happened and I only know what went on because of what my brother and mom have told me but I remember coming out of a movie theater and catching a small whiff of cigarette smoke. And that was enough. 30 or 40 minutes later, I was in the ER, after the doctors couldn’t get me to react to any of the medication, I was transferred to the ICU where the doctors informed my mom that I was not reacting to any medication and that she should say her goodbyes since they did not believe I would survive the night. I don’t really know how I did survive the night but I’m still here.
When most people think of asthma, they think of shortness of breath and with a few quick hits to an inhaler, it quickly goes away. I’m sad to say that it’s not true. I’ve now struggled in trying to live with asthma for 10 years and I have been on almost every kind of asthma medication including Albuterol, Proventil, Ventolin, Levalbuterol, Foradil, Spiriva, ipratropium bromide, Prednisone, Asmanex, Proair, Singular, Advair, Symbicort, Dexamethasone, Solu Medrol. It turns out that I’m allergic to some of the medications that are most common like adviar, symbicort, dexamethasone, and omeprazole. Because the only medicine that seems to keep my asthma at bay beyond the help of all the other medications I’m on that keep me alive is prednisone, it’s hard not to suffer the consequences that come along with the prolonged use of the drug. I have low iron, low calcium, I have now been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I have PTSD from all the near death experiences I’ve had due to my body not being able to breathe at any moment. I have severe sleep apnea; I’ve overweight due to medication weight, and many other health problems that have all stemmed out from taking prednisone for so long. Slowly but surely the asthma and all the medications that are supposed to keep me breathing are killing me.
I know that it sounds like I’m complaining, but the fact is I’m scared. I’m only 24 years old and as a newlywed, I should be worrying about things like what am I going to major in college or what am I going to cook for dinner for my new husband. I don’t feel like I should be worrying about making my new husband a widower, or that I might not be able to have children, or even reach my dreams of become a lawyer because I might die in a few years or whenever the next big attack may come. I live in constant fear of the next “big attack. ” After finding out that I am a perfect candidate for the bronchial thermoplasty, I was excited. However, I find myself in a hard spot where my insurance won’t pay for the procedure and it being the only thing that can save my life. I just want to have a second chance. So I can stay alive. So I can see my dreams come true.
Organizer
Izchel Simpson
Organizer
Woods Cross, UT