Amanda's Recovery Fund

I met Amanda the summer of 2016. She was working in the kitchen on our property with a local caterer. I was always in and out of the kitchen, getting ice or any other random thing and saying hi to everyone. Amanda was always pleasant and hapy and I was always happy to hear what was going on with her and her future goals. This past summer, 2017, she was again working on our property and we discussed the struggles she was having with her medical issues.

I felt terrible for her (despite her amazing positive nature) because I just wanted her to go to college and have fun and be a young adult without anything to worry about. I was so hopeful that she was going to get the help she needed as she was planning to go to the Mayo Clinic in MN over the winter. Unfortunately, things didn't go as expected.

Here are her words: 
"About a year and a half ago my symptoms of nausea and extreme dizziness started. We spent month searching for answers and I was tested for everything possible. Three emergency room visits and a helicopter ride occurred. The first on happened in Minnesota, I was rushed to the ER by my boyfriend after days of throwing up and being unable to get out of bed. When I got to the hospital I weighed 109 pounds, they pumped me full of fluids and sent me on my way. The second time happened during my summer job. It was a hot day in the kitchen so I thought I was overhearing. I sat down in front of the AC and next thing I know I was convulsing on the floor. The woman I worked with, Beth Taylor, called the flight paramedics and I was sent to Kalispell Regional. During the flight they had to give me five shots of sedatives to calm me down. Finally, this Christmas break I was getting extra work hours and my boss and I had stopped to get lunch at the local gas station. My grandparents happened to be there filling gas at the same time. I went to hug my grandfather but I felt incredibly lightheaded so I sat on the floor in the middle of the gas station. I had numbness in my legs and hands while being dizzy. I tried to get up thinking I just needed food and sat at the table shaking the whole time. I was taken to the hospital but on the way I lost the ability to talk and send a text message. I told them my birthday was in 1970. From this we schedualed a follow up visit on January 4th with the nurse practitioner because my doctor was still on Christmas vacation. She recommended an MRI which I went to on January 5th. That day after many tests, 40 pregnancy tests and lots of frustrations they found a tumor the size of a kiwi beneath my cerebellum. We were rushed to the neurosurgeon who had booked the OR for the 8th. I underwent surgery to remove the tumor which was 100% successful however the tumor proved to be cancerous. Since the surgery I have had trouble swallowing walking, and talking becuase the tumor was attached to the cranial nerves on my brain stem. I am continuing to work through these struggles and am looking at the small victories. Today I was able to regain my ability to swallow a bit of ice chips and use the bathroom with the help of a nurse. I also was able to walk with the aid of a walker. These advancements slow coming but encouraging. We expect a slow recovery but I am improving quickly. I am working with an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, and a physical therapist. I am hoping to get to 100+% before I begin radiation therapy."

The reason I am starting this campaign is to help Amanda and her grandparents (who have been taking care of her) with the costs that they will incur traveling from West Glacier to Kalispell 5 times a week for who knows how long. Also, if possible to even help with medical expenses. 

Tell your friends, tell others! Any little bit counts. Everyone I have come in contact with is amazed by Amanda and her determination. 

I would like her to know that so many people care and are willing her to a normal life again.