Jackie's Ongoing Health and School Journey

Donations - Some have asked to provide other ways they can donate-Please message

Jackie has gastroparesis. That's just the start. There are other complicating factors, as well. Gastroparesis causes paralysis in the stomach, which means that food and liquid cannot proceed to the next step in the digestive system. Food and liquid don't stay in the stomach for long. If there is a gastroparesis flare-up, the swallowed food and liquid come back up. As you can imagine, this is extremely painful. Because of the stomach issues (and lack of proper absorption), Jackie cannot take any pain medications. She relies on faith, humor, and good spirits to keep her going day by day. This is the immediate challenge that we are dealing with.

Jackie was hospitalized last week for a few days and was very dehydrated and malnourished. She is home and under a strict and aggressive plan and a long journey.

Now for the additional complications. These are the issues and diseases that Jackie is dealing with in conjunction with gastroparesis: Damage from acid reflux, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease (LRD), Dysphagia, Type 2 Diabetes (severe insulin resistance), and her body is not absorbing minerals and nutrients. She deals with constant nausea and frequent vomiting. Pain and discomfort. She wants to live a normal life and tries to see the beautiful blessings in all circumstances. As you know it can be very draining and stressful.

I am in awe of her resilience and determination. Jackie tries to keep positive but it's not easy.

All of this can be summed up by saying that there's a long journey ahead of us to recovery and healing. The purpose of this fundraiser is to provide help with medical supplies to monitor her status, medical bills, lab costs, and outstanding school costs (Jackie is still in school, too -- she's planning to graduate this August with a degree in Family Science), medicine, nutritional supplements for her specific needs, and food for her specific dietary needs for the Gastroparesis Nutrition Diet. Any funds received will help Jackie with her health issues and ensure that we can meet all of our financial health obligations while still making visits to doctors and specialists.

Her health team includes these specialists: Gastroenterologist (GI Doctor), Diabetes Management, Endocrinologist, Otorhinolayringologist (Ear-Nose-Throat Doctor), Therapist, Dietician, and Primary Care Provider.

The issues from Gastroparesis are also affecting her autonomic nervous system, which means that these issues are also causing problems for the rest of her organs that function automatically (heart, liver, digestive tract, etc.)

We're working on insurance and with an endocrinologist to get her an insulin pump. Funds will help if it's not covered. We'll know more in the next few days.

The plan is to aggressively treat the high glucose levels which will help the gastroparesis issues. Jackie is currently on a Gastroparesis Nutrition Diet, which limits her food intake to liquids and pureed foods. This is a six-week regimen, after which time we will regroup with the health team and determine the next steps.

We appreciate all cards, texts, letters, supportive posts, and any other positive reinforcements of love and care. Prayer works. Do that, too.

Establishing a good care team and a structure to help Jackie eases the burden on me (Tarl) and allow me to focus on my work and the things that I can manage in the home. Grateful to work from home.

We will update as needed. We need to focus on getting Jackie better and taking one day at a time. Thank you for your support, and God bless.

Tarl

From Jackie: Keep shining. Be inspired. JackieInspires