Lucy's Battle Against RSD
Donation protected
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1blrO8UIKKAZ3w6XtBce01Q1lsyEyA_YCcuhct1BeN38/edit?usp=sharing
^^sign a note and leave a comment here. I would like to give her all of the kind blessings people are leaving.
Within the past year and a half those who call Lucy Martinez-Tello a mom, a friend, a teacher, and a mentor, have had to sit by and watch a woman they love become taken over by a disorder that is still widely misunderstood within the medical community: RSD.
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD), more recently known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), is a rare chronic pain disorder that affects about 1.5 to 3 million people in America. RSD or CRPS causes the body's nervous system to send constant pain signals to the brain. This overactive signal makes even the weakest of stimuli excruciatingly painful. Imagine if things that normally cause no or minimal pain, like being touched by a Q-tip or pricked by a needle, were suddenly unbearable, such as being stabbed by a knife. Now imagine that a loved one has to endure this pain every single minute of every single day.
The symptoms that she has been experiencing since May of last year are intense burning and pain, rapid changes in skin temperature, increased sweating, skin sensitivity, swelling, limited movement, insomnia, memory loss, inflammation, sensitivity to sound, touch, and temperature; muscle spasms, emotional disturbances, confusion, and difficulties in concentration. Eventually a limb can become twisted as the bone softens and becomes overcome with pain making the limb unusable. It is ranked the most painful form of chronic pain on the McGill Pain Index ahead of amputation of a finger/toe, phantom limb, and non-terminal cancer pain.
Since February 2013, I along with many others have witnessed first hand the truly horrific effects of RSD. We have watched as it claimed our mother, teacher, mentor, and dear friend as a victim. One evening, Lucy was cooking dinner for her husband and 4 children. What was an everyday routine changed her life after she was burned from a grease fire on both legs from her knees down to the bottom of her feet. The burns were severe enough to cause an infection that put her in the hospital for over a month. In a blink of an eye the infection turned into RSD stage 3 and began to take over her body. Overnight, she developed a pulmonary embolism - a blood clot that develops in the deep veins of the legs or pelvis, broke off and migrated to the lung. At 39 years old, her life was hanging by a thread. Surrounded by a relentless medical staff, they decided to try and go forward with one of the few known treatments for RSD. The Ketamine treatment, which essentially would put her into a coma-like state for a week followed by several rounds of ketamine injections, was thought to be the best route. However, due to the pulmonary embolism, Lucy barely survived night 1 of the treatment and they had to call it quits. A few weeks later, Lucy was no longer able to walk and was still experiencing intense and unbearable pain. Fast forward a few months until now and Lucy is not able to work, drive, or perform simple physical tasks. She is in constant pain and is taking a serious variety of medications that adds to the list of symptoms she has to face daily.
After a year of agony, Lucy is back to square one with her treatment. She needs to undergo the full Ketamine infusion treatment before RSD attacks her organs and shuts down the rest of her body. Administered at the most affordable price in NYC, Lucy and her husband Magdiel drove from Florida to NY and will remain there for as long as necessary. The Ketamine infusion treatment is 4-5 hours of an IV infusion of Ketamine a day for anywhere from 5 to 10 consecutive days. Unfortunately, this treatment is not covered by insurance because it is an experimental, case-study treatment. It costs $525 per day for the first 3 days of administration and an another $800 each day after that. Within 2 weeks she will have to return for a booster (1 day of infusion) for $800. She will need additional boosters ($800 each) at both four and eight weeks. Every year she will need to return to receive at least one infusion to keep her condition under control. Her husband will have to travel back and forth to Florida at least 3 more times this year and they will have to be in a hotel each trip. The total cost for treatment and travel is estimated at a conservative $23,000 and could easily end up costing more.
Lucy and her husband are both high school Spanish teachers who have been teaching for over 10 years. They have 4 children ages 12, 14, 21, and 23 and me—who she claims as her "daughter by heart." Lucy goes above and beyond in ensuring the well-being of her friends and students alike. A true educator, she dedicates many hours to her students outside of the classroom by tutoring and mentoring. Her hard work and dedication pays off every year as her class has never fallen below 90% passing on the IB Spanish test, even frequently reaching 100% passing. Her success is entirely deserved as she is wholly devoted to her students. She brings excitement, humor, love, and compassion to the classroom and is the perfect combination of loud and proud, unconventional and inventive, and tough yet caring. She never lets her students accept failure and believes in them when no one else does. After having her as a teacher for 3 years and a "spirit mother" for 7 more, she has had a tremendous effect on my life. It is because of her that I am where I am today – sentiments that are echoed by anyone who has had the privilege of being in Lucy’s life.
Here is another testimony of her tremendous impact from a former student/current family friend:
"Lucy is a beautiful mother, friend, and educator. Anyone who knows her recognizes how deeply devoted she is to God and her family. She takes pride in her loved ones and is selfless in the way she radiates unconditional love. As a teacher, she is bold and expressive with tremendous passion for her students. She's the kind of woman who makes you believe you can do anything and be anyone that you choose as long as you work hard and believe in your ability. She is tenacious and loving, and her strength as a person is truly inspiring. I am honored to know her.
Her illness has brought about many obstacles, but her energy, compassion, and zest for life have allowed her to continue persevering. Please keep Lucy and her loving family in your prayers as she combats this illness and support her in any way that you can" -Rachel Genao.
I could write for days speaking on her beautiful character. If you would like to know more, see the attached document with quotes from other people she has impacted.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1blrO8UIKKAZ3w6XtBce01Q1lsyEyA_YCcuhct1BeN38/edit?usp=sharing
Lucy’s story does not deserve to end here, she still has pages of quotes to fill up from people whose lives are changed by meeting her. The world is not done knowing how amazing Lucy is, so please help in any way you can. Your kind words will be just as appreciated as any dollar amount.
Love,
Claire Price,
Former Student and Daughter by heart to Lucy Martinez-Tello,
^^sign a note and leave a comment here. I would like to give her all of the kind blessings people are leaving.
Within the past year and a half those who call Lucy Martinez-Tello a mom, a friend, a teacher, and a mentor, have had to sit by and watch a woman they love become taken over by a disorder that is still widely misunderstood within the medical community: RSD. Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD), more recently known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), is a rare chronic pain disorder that affects about 1.5 to 3 million people in America. RSD or CRPS causes the body's nervous system to send constant pain signals to the brain. This overactive signal makes even the weakest of stimuli excruciatingly painful. Imagine if things that normally cause no or minimal pain, like being touched by a Q-tip or pricked by a needle, were suddenly unbearable, such as being stabbed by a knife. Now imagine that a loved one has to endure this pain every single minute of every single day.
The symptoms that she has been experiencing since May of last year are intense burning and pain, rapid changes in skin temperature, increased sweating, skin sensitivity, swelling, limited movement, insomnia, memory loss, inflammation, sensitivity to sound, touch, and temperature; muscle spasms, emotional disturbances, confusion, and difficulties in concentration. Eventually a limb can become twisted as the bone softens and becomes overcome with pain making the limb unusable. It is ranked the most painful form of chronic pain on the McGill Pain Index ahead of amputation of a finger/toe, phantom limb, and non-terminal cancer pain.
Since February 2013, I along with many others have witnessed first hand the truly horrific effects of RSD. We have watched as it claimed our mother, teacher, mentor, and dear friend as a victim. One evening, Lucy was cooking dinner for her husband and 4 children. What was an everyday routine changed her life after she was burned from a grease fire on both legs from her knees down to the bottom of her feet. The burns were severe enough to cause an infection that put her in the hospital for over a month. In a blink of an eye the infection turned into RSD stage 3 and began to take over her body. Overnight, she developed a pulmonary embolism - a blood clot that develops in the deep veins of the legs or pelvis, broke off and migrated to the lung. At 39 years old, her life was hanging by a thread. Surrounded by a relentless medical staff, they decided to try and go forward with one of the few known treatments for RSD. The Ketamine treatment, which essentially would put her into a coma-like state for a week followed by several rounds of ketamine injections, was thought to be the best route. However, due to the pulmonary embolism, Lucy barely survived night 1 of the treatment and they had to call it quits. A few weeks later, Lucy was no longer able to walk and was still experiencing intense and unbearable pain. Fast forward a few months until now and Lucy is not able to work, drive, or perform simple physical tasks. She is in constant pain and is taking a serious variety of medications that adds to the list of symptoms she has to face daily.
After a year of agony, Lucy is back to square one with her treatment. She needs to undergo the full Ketamine infusion treatment before RSD attacks her organs and shuts down the rest of her body. Administered at the most affordable price in NYC, Lucy and her husband Magdiel drove from Florida to NY and will remain there for as long as necessary. The Ketamine infusion treatment is 4-5 hours of an IV infusion of Ketamine a day for anywhere from 5 to 10 consecutive days. Unfortunately, this treatment is not covered by insurance because it is an experimental, case-study treatment. It costs $525 per day for the first 3 days of administration and an another $800 each day after that. Within 2 weeks she will have to return for a booster (1 day of infusion) for $800. She will need additional boosters ($800 each) at both four and eight weeks. Every year she will need to return to receive at least one infusion to keep her condition under control. Her husband will have to travel back and forth to Florida at least 3 more times this year and they will have to be in a hotel each trip. The total cost for treatment and travel is estimated at a conservative $23,000 and could easily end up costing more.
Lucy and her husband are both high school Spanish teachers who have been teaching for over 10 years. They have 4 children ages 12, 14, 21, and 23 and me—who she claims as her "daughter by heart." Lucy goes above and beyond in ensuring the well-being of her friends and students alike. A true educator, she dedicates many hours to her students outside of the classroom by tutoring and mentoring. Her hard work and dedication pays off every year as her class has never fallen below 90% passing on the IB Spanish test, even frequently reaching 100% passing. Her success is entirely deserved as she is wholly devoted to her students. She brings excitement, humor, love, and compassion to the classroom and is the perfect combination of loud and proud, unconventional and inventive, and tough yet caring. She never lets her students accept failure and believes in them when no one else does. After having her as a teacher for 3 years and a "spirit mother" for 7 more, she has had a tremendous effect on my life. It is because of her that I am where I am today – sentiments that are echoed by anyone who has had the privilege of being in Lucy’s life.
Here is another testimony of her tremendous impact from a former student/current family friend:
"Lucy is a beautiful mother, friend, and educator. Anyone who knows her recognizes how deeply devoted she is to God and her family. She takes pride in her loved ones and is selfless in the way she radiates unconditional love. As a teacher, she is bold and expressive with tremendous passion for her students. She's the kind of woman who makes you believe you can do anything and be anyone that you choose as long as you work hard and believe in your ability. She is tenacious and loving, and her strength as a person is truly inspiring. I am honored to know her.
Her illness has brought about many obstacles, but her energy, compassion, and zest for life have allowed her to continue persevering. Please keep Lucy and her loving family in your prayers as she combats this illness and support her in any way that you can" -Rachel Genao.
I could write for days speaking on her beautiful character. If you would like to know more, see the attached document with quotes from other people she has impacted.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1blrO8UIKKAZ3w6XtBce01Q1lsyEyA_YCcuhct1BeN38/edit?usp=sharing
Lucy’s story does not deserve to end here, she still has pages of quotes to fill up from people whose lives are changed by meeting her. The world is not done knowing how amazing Lucy is, so please help in any way you can. Your kind words will be just as appreciated as any dollar amount.
Love,
Claire Price,
Former Student and Daughter by heart to Lucy Martinez-Tello,
Organizer
Claire Price
Organizer
Grand Prairie, TX