Kayla’s Medical Fundraiser

My name is Kayla or kmarie_g on socials. 

See that whopping number goal up there? It’s how far into medical debt I am after spending a lot of my life in the hospital. I don’t expect to ever be debt free but I sure appreciate those who have helped me keep my head above water! 

My journey with health issues started in 2011. 

Please take the time to read my story! Awareness is everything when it comes to rare illnesses and our testimonies of how good God is and what he has delivered us from are so important to share! 

The diagnosis: 

AVCS (abdominal vascular compression syndromes) are labeled rare but often are misdiagnosed. I got diagnosed with 5 of them (SMAS, MALS, NCS, MTS, PCS) as well as SLE Lupus, Hashimoto's, rheumatoid arthritis, EDS (Ehlers danlos) a connective tissue disorder thought to be linked to these vascular compressions. 

Unfortunately, not a lot of doctors are educated on AVCS. It took me seeing 11 GI Drs and them doing unnecessary surgeries like gallbladder removal, pancreas stents and even taking the option of more children away with an unnecessary uterine surgery, I slowly wasted away into a state of malnutrition I couldn’t bounce back from. 

In 2019 I was dying from malnutrition. 

My compressions were so severe I couldn’t even tube feed properly so after 3 failed feeding tubes my dr told me there was nothing more to do. I was sent home from the hospital after being inpatient two weeks and told to say my goodbyes. That was it. How do you prepare to say goodbye to your two small children who depend on you so much? That was when God stepped in and led me to a surgeon in Baltimore Maryland who was one of the few in the whole United states who could do this particular surgery. Within 2 weeks I was in Baltimore and I had my life saving surgery called duodenojejunostomy or DDJ for short. Life was so good for 7 months until other compressions started wrecking havoc on my body and trying to fail my kidneys. I was diagnosed with EDS & SLE Lupus which could be the cause of a lot of this but unfortunately there isn’t enough research to help fit this puzzle together. 

After searching the USA over and traveling to meet many surgeons who wanted to do a variety of surgeries, including an auto kidney transplant, before I gave up my search and turned completely to the Lord’s healing power. 

I went from seeking doctors desperate for healing to seeking Jesus desperately for answers. 

I found my purpose in life and that it is not God’s will for my life to give up. Instead, he gave me new life. 

Reading the Bible everyday, turned into me teaching others how to seek and find Jesus too. When I completely surrendered to my calling, I understood all the pain and suffering had not been in vain. 

I am strong and obedient to Christ because of what I’ve endured and overcome. 

Despite any diagnosis’ I found my way to working for the Lord. I stopped making excuses of why I couldn’t and started making reasons why I could. 

Fast forward a few years, Jesus has healed my body from a dozen diagnosis’s and is now using my hands and feet to heal others too. I won’t lie and say I never feel pain anymore because we all know pain is a part of this human life but I will say I don’t wallow in my pain nor do I let it define me. 

I’m not naïve to think I could ever be medical debt free as I’ve been fighting hospital visit bills, surgery and so on since 2011  but I hope to lessen the burden of them over time and not feel like I’ve paid for my life in hospital bills. 

I know this is long and I thank each person who’s read this far. While I don’t claim them anymore, the  odd diagnosis’ is hard to understand but with each person who gains knowledge, they could save a life! I’ve watched these AVCS support groups double in numbers which means more warriors like me are finding they have these compressions. We’re all having to do our own research and seek doctors in many different states, Which ends up costing so much in medical bills just from being desperate for medical help and not getting it. 

 I do not receive disability or any gov funds because I truly leave everything up to God. My health, my finances, everything! He is always faithful and I know God has forged me in the fire for the woman I am today. I had doubt that healing would ever be in my future but through spiritual healing, I also found physical healing. 

I will be a faithful servant, spread my testimony and bring as many people as I can to Jesus. My health is no longer my goal, your salvation is. 

 God still has a lot of work for me to do so until he takes me home. 

Thanks again for taking time to read. If you haven’t yet, pick up a Bible, it has the power to change your whole life and my testimony is proof of that fact.

God bless you!

Kayla Gabbard

Kmarie_g