Mason & Mama Need Your Help

To be fully transparent as I ask for help, I will try and briefly tell my story. I am a single-mama to this little boy (who is now 10!). I became ill prior to COVID. The gastroenterologist took a very long time to diagnose me. I was finally diagnosed with gastroparesis - essentially neuropathy in my stomach. My stomach was not functioning properly. This was due to my diabetes. I tried all the treatments - none were successful. My symptoms were becoming worse and worse. Food was not my friend. I finally decided to have surgery that would essentially remove the damaged tissue in my stomach and 99% of the time "cure" gastroparesis. Another benefit to this surgery is that it would assist me in getting rid of my diabetes. I had this surgery in September 2021. All did not go as planned. Although I no longer have a diabetes diagnosis, my gastroparesis symptoms have intensified tenfold. Prior to my surgery, my "flare-ups" would come on without warning and last 24-36 hours. Post-surgery, I have been plagued with constant, 24-hour debilitating nausea. This nausea is so intense that I can no longer eat food. I can't get past the nausea to do so. No anti-nausea medications help. At this point, my surgeon had a feeding tube placed in me so that I could receive nutrition. Since my initial surgery, I have had several other surgeries and tried everything that the doctors have suggested to find a solution. I feel about 100 times worse now than when I began this process.

What are my next steps? The surgeon wants me to get stronger and gain some weight. On the day of my initial surgery I weighed 230 lbs. I currently weigh 89 lbs. I am trying to achieve this goal so that I can have one final surgery to reverse the initial surgery. This is my "last stone unturned". The surgeon has no idea if this will eliminate the debilitating nausea or not. I have to try. Palliative care is an umbrella of services that will coordinate my care and help me to get to a stronger and healthier place. My mental health; physical therapy to prevent atrophy; pain management to get my body to a more comfortable place (my nausea is literally painful); support services for Mason to help him deal with a parent who has a chronic illness; case manager to assist with the coordination of my care; social worker to assist with navigating the transition of my Medicaid from regular to long-term so that I can receive help within my home for things like light housekeeping, laundry, and picking up prescriptions; and exploring alternative medical treatments outside of Western medicine. My spiritual health has been supported thus far by close friends and family. When palliative care is all set up, it will be such a blessing! Getting this care set up has been a nightmare. God has finally opened a door that seems to be moving forward.

What do I need help with? I am overwhelmed! What a season this has been. I'm tired - physically, emotionally, spiritually. It takes all I have to make sure that Mason has the essentials to operate daily. I have not worked since December 7, 2021. I simply cannot - I am not well enough to do so. I am constantly wretching and vomiting which makes it difficult to operate in everyday life. I have applied for Disability and been denied twice so far. I am working with an attorney to try and get it approved. This could take up to a year. I have trimmed as much "fat" as I can think of to reduce my overall costs. The stress of financially providing for Mason and I until my Disability is approved is overwhelming.

Moving forward (this is a difficult paragraph). God has provided in unusual ways over the last 14 months. I've evaded eviction due to COVID Rent Relief, the generosity of St. Vincent de Paul Ministry, and the generosity of my GoFundMe donors thus far. We receive SNAP benefits through Henrico County which fully cover our need for food. My insurance is provided by Medicaid since I'm not working. I've been encouraged to ask for what I realistically need to survive now and the coming months. I've thought about what I need the most, I've researched costs, and I've prayed about it. I need help with rent for the next six months until my lease expires. At that point in time, my hope and prayer is that my Disability will be in place and I will be in a better position to secure alternate housing. I need help with securing alternative medical treatments such as accupunture (my insurance does not cover this). I have had success with accupuncture in the past for a different diagnosis. My insurance did cover hypnotherapy - which I tried - it didn't help. I would also like to consult with an Integrative and Functional Medicine specialist. This will be 100% cash treatment. If this approach helps get me to a healthier place, then I will be able to work again. If I'm working, I can contribute to my own HSA, and use these funds to continue being seen as a patient in Integrative and Functional Medicine.

I know this is a big ask! I have loving and supportive friends and family. But, the bottom line is I need to find a way to provide for our financial needs (Mason and I) for the next six months. These ARE my greatest needs. I believe prayer is powerful - I will take all I can get! Please give if you feel led to do so, please share my GoFundMe with your friends and family, please pray for divine healing! Thank you.