Join Quincy’s Fight Against MS

Hosted by Emily and Miriam. This note is from Quincy's mom, Miriam:

This is a gracious and humble request for help for my daughter, Quincy Gardner, who was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). As a mom, I would like to tell you a bit about who Quincy is and what she faces with this disease. Quincy is a mom of five children and is fortunate to have a great husband, Spencer, who adores her and loves his children beyond words. Due to their situation, where their insurance does not cover all her needs, he takes on extra work to fund the mounting expenses they have already incurred. However, he cannot continue at this pace as it takes him away from the family when Quincy needs the most help.

Quincy has a strong passion for teaching others the value of eating what we grow without pesticides. She has helped others here in the Rapid City area to design their own gardens for their own families. As such, Quincy has been an organic gardener for over ten years and grows most of the family groceries in her small backyard. She also organizes a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and raises pastured meat chickens at the ranch of a friend. In the past, people who want quality organic pasture-raised chicken purchase the number of chickens they will need, and Quincy feeds, cares for them, and does all the work to bring them to the table of her customers. It goes without saying that she has been a very busy mom. In addition to the outdoor passions she has, she is a homeschool mom for all five of her children. Her children range in age from 12 years to 3 years and are affectionately named Ireland, Murphy, Dublin, Charlie, and Mickey.

When this disease came to light late last summer, it was after she temporarily lost her vision in one eye. After emergency room visits, she was able to get into a vision specialist who recommended she immediately see a neurologist. This was the first of many challenges she would face in finding out what was happening in her body. After referrals and frustrating doctor visits, she was finally going in for two MRIs. The sad news that she was officially diagnosed with MS came as a total shock with devastating emotions. She was told she had several lesions on her spine and in her brain, where the myelin had been destroyed, and the outlook was grim. Her official diagnosis is Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. According to her neurologist, it is critical she does what she can now to prevent Secondary Progressive MS.

It is a difficult thing to ask for help, but I have urged them to do so in the hope they will be able to get ahead of this disease somewhat. Most of what the doctor recommends and urges Quincy to do, insurance will not cover. Although this has been a challenging time for Quincy, she is filled with hope and does her very best to smile and carry on. She has seen a decrease in some of the symptoms with treatments and therapies she has been doing for the last three months, but the expense has been enormous.

I am asking for your help so that she can continue to keep up the good fight against this aggressive neurodegenerative disease. Not just for her but for her family who need her, and also for her mental and emotional well-being during the battle.

Quincy is a woman of prayer and will appreciate your prayers for her as well. If you feel led to donate, it would be most appreciated. No donation is too small, and prayers are always appreciated. If you cannot donate, please share her story, and keep good thoughts for her as she holds on to her faith in the midst of the storm.

Blessings to you,

Miriam