On April 6th, my sister, Kelly Pfeffer, had gotten off of work and was heading to a yoga class. She was stopped behind a vehicle waiting to make a left turn in front of her and was rear ended by a driver at high speed. The rear impact caused her car to crash into the truck in front of her. Her car was totaled in the collision. The other driver received a citation. Kelly was diagnosed with multiple bruises, contusions, an injured sternum, and a grade 2 concussion at the emergency room that day. After taking a bit of time to recover, she tried to continue with work and everyday activities, but her stubborn headaches would not go away. 

After weeks of headaches, her doctor sent her to a neurologist. To be safe, the neurologist ordered a carotid artery ultrasound. Kelly knew something was wrong when she saw the look on the ultrasound technician's face. She told Kelly that there was an "irregularity" and quickly left the room to call Kelly's neurologist. There was a delay and Kelly, who is absolutely fastidious about work and is never late, left her contact information with the receptionist and went on to work.

Kelly has been working as an esthetician as an hourly employee at a local spa over the past twelve years. She does not have health insurance through her employer, as is the case with most spa service employees. She depends on her shifts to make the money she needs to support herself and her beloved pets and to purchase health insurance and pay the mortgage on her small house in Belleville, MI.

Shortly after Kelly arrived to work, she received a call from her neurologist telling her, in no uncertain terms, that she should head to the emergency room right away. The carotid ultrasound revealed a serious complication from her car accident. Her right internal carotid artery had dissected. Over the course of the next week at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Kelly would be started on IV heparin, Plavix, Lipitor, and aspirin. She received various x-rays, scans, and tests--an MRI, MRA, CAT, and CTA. Many more tests and doctor appointments lie ahead. 

She learned through these tests that the damage to her carotid artery was extensive and that multiple blood clots had formed in the torn artery, resulting in a 90% blockage of blood flow to the brain from that critical artery. Miraculously, a series of smaller arteries and the arteries on the left side of Kelly's neck are doing their best to pick up the slack of the lost blood flow on the right, but they are being overworked and ballooning from their usual size to get blood to Kelly's brain. This is not a situation that can continue for the long term.

At this point, it seems likely that at least two stents will need to be surgically placed in the carotid artery to open it up and reestablish adequate blood flow to Kelly's brain. This is a procedure that carries its own risks, most notably stroke if existing blood clots are dislodged during the procedure. We will know more after a repeat CTA scan in ten days. The most recent scan suggests that an aneurysm may also be forming at one portion of the dissection.

During this time, Kelly is losing a portion of her wages, worried about the future, worried about her pets, and worried about dealing with all of the everyday tasks required to maintain a home. I've only discussed here the most immediately concerning issue Kelly is dealing with right now. She continues to struggle with neck, back, sternum, calf, and knee pain as well. Her family is providing as much support as possible, but our parents are elderly and dealing with their own complex health issues and I live with my family in South Carolina. I'll stay as long as I am able to be sure that Kelly has the help that she needs and deserves. This GoFundMe account is part of that process. Kelly could really use your help right now so that she is able to pay her existing bills and maintain her pets and home while she is recovering. If you know Kelly, you know she never asks anyone for anything. Rather, she is always the one ready to lend a helping hand and support, with a smile, to anyone who needs it.

Thanks so much, from the bottom of our hearts, to those who are able to help Kelly during this tough time.