Lisa's Spine injury & Complication Healing Journey

As the months have passed, conditions have been complicated by infections due to the damage received by the electric shock and spine injury this past November.

The long awaited specialist appointments are around the corner and with their car needing TLC, and even Greg struggling more with his own health conditions, they are in need of some help with fuel and possibly labor and parts for their car to be able to travel to Sioux Falls, Brookings and Fargo for appointments coming up.

This time they need your help.

The most recent findings are damaged nerves in her spine, also to her bladder, bowels and legs. Lisa was able to find a way to access in home care by way of an old amendment that gave her the chance to qualify for Medicaid including home health aides and nursing. Hallelujah!

Months have passed since the MRI accident, and the injuries have evolved and continue to do so. She had retained approximately 44 pounds of fluid, putting strain on her body and heart. Due to her bladder nerves being damaged, she wasn't and isn't able to feel the sensation to go, nor emptynher bladder and is incontinent of urine and her bowel nerves have had some negative changes as of recent too.

She has had recurrent bladder infections from the time of accident until they placed a Foley catheter in the beginning of March, allowing her bladder to be able to fully empty. This has come with a price, as she spasms and in one week popped 3 Foley balloons and had to have it replaced 3 times in a week, one Foley needing to be taken out intact as it was blocked and broken due to her bladder retention holding onto sediment, it's and tissue from the nearly constant infections.

Her most recent infection returned last weekend after finishing a course of strong oral antibiotics.

This return caused her to become even more ill, and IV antibiotics were the last hope and has a midline IV placed and is currently receiving daily antibiotic infusions.

During the crises, Jan 10nshe learned she no longer makes cortisol and the ambulance calls and syncope episodes and heart related things were due to an undetectable cortisol level which is now being managed by daily 3x day hydrocortisone to keep her levels higher. That comes with a price of high glucose levels, and her latest a1c has reflected it. Due to long delays in scheduling for endocrinologist, she sees her new Endo in April. Along with Neuro, pain Management, pulmonology, and an eye surgeon all in Fargo except pulmonary is in town.

Her eyes are still about the same. Dimight is best, as light sensitivity will cause migraines. It is our hope that the surgeon can come up with a non-surgical option. But we are prepared for surgery news.

Earlier this past summer, due to the loss of Lisa's FT income, and needing to retire early, both of their vehicles were to be surrendered as the loss of income was not sustainable to be able to keep both vehicles. We paid cash for a small little car, but unfortunately it is showing it's age, and shifting hard and losing oil. We are blessed with a mechanic who is a dear friend that will be doing some diagnostics and see what needs to be done.

Due to Lisa's autoimmune status and previous immunosupppressed state, fighting infections and not being able to be on her autoimmune medications, her autoimmune arthritis is causing more stress on her body. She had joint injections a few weeks ago, and they did help.

Last night Lisa woke up to sudden pain and swelling of her knee. By this morning it was doubled in size and warm. Due to her being on a blood thinner, local clinicians are not comfortable with aspirating fluid to drain the knee so Lisa will be needing to go to Sioux Falls in the morning for an appointment with her rheumatologist to have this procedure done.

Tuesday she will meet with urology for the first time. The first urology provider was not helpful by failing to send in orders for testing and delayed her treatments, which is a disappointment but we are blessed that the new urologist is fitting her in sooner than the end of April. This will be in Brookings

Thursday, Lisa will travel to Fargo to meet with pain management, to address her severe pain stemming from the spine injury, her autoimmune, and nerve damage from the electrocution. Lisa is not a surgical candidate, and with Greg, they decided that a large spinal reconstruction was going to be more harm than good with her history of delayed healing and complications. Her scoliosis hardware was loosened, limiting movements as a pedicle screw is touching the thecal sac, and as Lisa found out last weekend, if she makes certain movements, it will cause her entire rib cage to clamp down including her abdominal muscles and unable to feel or move those areas and has to wait for the muscles to unclamp. Following it, the nerves misfire and her muscles will painfully twitch.

Lisa wants to make the best out of life and will adapt and adjust like she always does, with a smile and positive outlook.

April 9 is the eye surgeon, Mid April will be the endocrinologist and neurologist appointments. Eye surgeon appointment may have to be pushed back due to financial strain and transportation issues with their car needing some TLC.

Finally, end of April she will meet with pulmonologist, and go over her pulmonary function which has been affected by this.

Lisa qualifies for travel reimbursement, but it is unknown how long that takes to be sent to her. She is under a DHS waiver, so not able to receive the same benefits as DSS clients do.

She has received her wheelchair also, and they are installing a ramp soon. If needed, they will conduct a PT assessment for a motorized 2.snoikd she need it. Afternoons and evenings are harder and is when she loses the most sensation and after walking.

The abdominal pain following this infection reoccurrence has been brutal so she needs to recline as sitting up and walking cause a lot of pain in her lower abdomen and bladder area. She is now on medication to help the spasms.

We want to thank everyone for their life and prayers and wishlist surprises. We are so abundantly blessed, and grateful.

Specialty appointments took what sees like forever but the months are here. Thi

The most recent medical assessments have revealed a brain aneurysm in the left internal carotid artery, and eye assessment is that the eyes are healthy, aside from elevated pressures, but it is the brain that is injured somewhat similar to a NTBI and not working appropriately and has misaligned her eye, causing the type of vision defect she has currently, along with the parathesias and difficulty with balance, coordination, and falls. She will be seeing neuro Opthalmology at U of M hopefully soon. Earliest appt at U of M Neurology is in March, but Sanford ER recalled my original referral and resent it as urgent. That one was April. So we pray it comes soon. Pulmonology also as she has lung damage from the clots in June and they are exacerbated by the CNS injury. She will be following up with a neuro-interventionalradiologist for the brain aneurysm. It was not there at her most recent heat CT in mid May. She has been having some difficulty swallowing the last few days but is doing ok despite.

Together, Greg and Lisa have made the decision to postpone any spinal procedures with this brain aneurysm present as adding any more stress to her body on top of everything that has happened this year, may cause strain on the aneurysm. If it is fixed, then we may proceed with the guidance of her teams.

It seems to be thought by the group of specialists ER spoke to, that this is brain/neurological related from the electrical shock to my body. Nerve testing was positive for damage. Home PT thought what's done is done to the right leg. We are working on my hip flexors to try to improve movement of the leg. She has a wonderful home nurse Missy. We are working on getting a Medicaid waiver in place so she has continued care at home as our insurance does not cover private care services. We do not qualify for Medicaid services but there are waivers available to help with these situations. Donations have already helped with medical supplies and traveling. We will be traveling more to the cities for appointments as well and further medical supplies as needed, and of course food and utilities as well.

You see, this year has been unkind. Lisa battles an autoimmune disease, and it has its effects on how her body works. Jan 1 Lisa suffered a serious rare type of bowel perforation, requiring 5 surgeries in the span of Jan to April, and months of open wound care, with the wounds finally sealing in August of this year. During that, her autoimmune greatly impacted her healing and the medications used to control it couldn't be taken due to the seriousness of the illness and healing. This caused it to be more resistant to treatment once resumed. Years of steroids affected her bone health and fractures started this Fall. She was finally on the road to feeling better and ready to start pool therapy when after going in for a routine MRI to assess the psoriatic arthritis in her pelvis in order to start proper biologics, with a knee implant she was told was safe, was not. She received shocks through that leg and knee joint causing different nerve damage throughout her leg and body, and also during the exam, it moved her leg around in a matter that cause a back injury that has reduced sensation in the pelvic region, diagnosed with saddle anesthesia. She has lost bladder control and struggles with bowels now and she is a safety risk due to balance issues and weak unstable legs due to the spine and nerve injury. She has been seen in the SF ER for this and confirmed it was electrocution, and sent on her way. Ortho said the knee didn't break during which is wonderful news, but is still battling the spine, pelvic parasthesis and mobility problems. Home health has been ordered this week and friends have been helping care for her while Greg works.

Greg himself has had 4 brain surgeries and has an esophageal disorder which is being treated at Mayo as well. He works very hard to make ends meet for us and then comes home to help care for Lisa.

on Dec 6, Lisa's vision started to be affected. she is seeing double and other visual defects she is working with eye doctors for. Greg and Lisa have also started the process today to go to Mayo. Lisa did the intake assessment today and it is under review. She wants everything evaluated from the autoimmune to the spine and neurological injury so she can get back to healing and being the helper she loves to be.

Funds would be used for ongoing out of pocket costs, gas, hotels if Mayo accepts them and ongoing living expenses as losing Lisa's income was a big hit. She is currently receiving a small amount of disability each month she puts towards their rent.

Greg and Lisa appreciate all of the gifts, donations and love and prayers you have sent.

This is a big battle going forward, and appreciate your help, if even a share.

Love you all so much.

We got this!

Greg Banks at First Bank and Trust on 212.

Lisa has PayPal: [email redacted]

cards can be mailed to:

1412 12th Ave SE Apt 11

Watertown, SD 57201