Mandi - MS Warrior
Hi! 
I'm Amanda! :)
I have Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis sucks, but it isn't a life sentence. Please read about the disease below in a "plain-english" blog I found.
http://www.msunites.com/
I didn't always have it. I lived a relatively normal life until I was 21 years old when I was diagnosed with the disease. I recovered quickly then - in about 30 days it was like nothing had happened. I was placed on a DMD (Disease Modifying Drug) that prevented further relapses. That was the treatment, DMD and hope for the best.
So my life went back to relative normalcy. I even fell in love and married my husband of 6 years Michael. We had a beautiful daughter named Kira.
Our 10-year-old Jordi photobombed them here! LOL!
What sillies! :)
When Kira was about 8 months, I began to experience a relapse. A relapse is when the symptoms get much worse for a period then get better "almost" all the way, meaning that over the years, it will inevitably get progressively worse. Only my "relapse" never "lapsed".
I've been getting progressively worse since then. I never fully recovered. My husband, Michael, no longer works, and has to take care of me full time. He needs to be available to help me do everything from putting on my socks to going to the bathroom. I would be lost without him.
The reason why I decided to launch this gofundme campaign is simple. This disease has broken my family financially. Meeting our funding goal would not make us comfortable, just help us avoid bankruptcy. Allow me to explain.
After Kira was born, I progressively got worse over a period of 18 months. During that period, my symptoms changed a lot both day-to-day, and over-all. My husband and I had to adapt quickly so that I could keep going to work. We both liquidated our 401k's and we also depleted our savings. Unfortunately that wasn't enough. We were forced to spend a LOT of money we didn't have on things like:
*cars (as my symptoms changed, the type of vehicle I needed would change so we had to trade cars)
*walkers
*wheelchairs
*shower shairs
*reach-grabbers
*cooling vest
*continence products
*other adaptive equipment
*other accessibility equipment
*mobility chairs
*mobility scooter
PLUS we had (and still have) medical bills in the thousands. During this period I had 2 MRI's and dozens of other tests, routine and otherwise.
PLUS medication costs are also in the thousands monthly.
Also we are in need of:
A wheelchair van.
I am insured through my job, but the out-of-pocket costs have been astronomical these last couple of years. And, do you want to know what else? I handled these bills like a champ. Like the good American that I am, I paid those darn bills. Not with money that I had, but money that I planned to earn in the years to come as soon as I got back on my feet. Unfortunately that never happened. I'm not yet able to go back to work, and my husband cannot work due to needing to care for me.
Please find it in your heart to help in one or more of the following ways:
*Pray for me and my family
*Share this story
*Donate whatever you can
*Again, at least share. please!
