Medical expense support for Amy Fitzgerald

My name is Kirsten Brekke Albright and I am supporting the healing journey of my dear friend Amy Fitzgerald. Amy suffers from deeply compromising chronic pain from Occipital Neuralgia (unrelenting nerve pain at the base of her scull) with co-ocuring migraines. She has spent the past two years seeking medical care from virtually every specialist in the twin cities as well as the Mayo Clinic. Her extensive care team in Minnesota have run their course of pain mitigating procedures and medication options.

With full support of her Mayo Team and her M Health neurologist, she is seeking treatment of a surgeon in St. Louis. Dr. Robert Hagan specializes in Occipital Nerve Decompression surgery. Despite direct recommendations and letters of support from her care team and multiple appeals, Health Partners has denied coverage for this surgery.

The out of pocket expenses for this surgery will exceed $16,000. Adding to the financial burden, Amy will be out of work for over two weeks as she recovers.

A bit about Amy...Amy is a single mother of two wonderful daughters, Estelle (15) and Gracelyn (21). Amy has given her all as the primary caregiver and financial provider for her family. Estelle has Down Syndrome and while fiercely independent, she requires a great deal of support in her day to day life. Gracelyn is in her senior year at St. Thomas and has been a vitally helpful caretaker over the past two years. She chose to live at home to support Amy during the pandemic, with Estelle's day to day needs as well as other needs of the family. Professionally, Amy is in private practice as a Mental Health Therapist, specializing in addiction counseling. Her medical condition has limited her capacity to work, which in turn has impacted her finances over the past two years. We are hopeful that this procedure will provide relief physically, emotionally and ultimately allow Amy to return to some semblance of "normal".

This kind of suffering is often silent and unseen. While Amy has navigated life with grace, I am certain the unyielding and insufferable pain she has endured is simply too much to bare. She is a kind, generous soul dedicated to many issues, chief among them providing the best possible education and opportunities for both of her daughters.

She remains hopeful, with the love and prayers of her village, that this surgery will be successful. I will travel with Amy to St. Louis this evening with surgery scheduled for Wednesday, June 30.

Please consider a contribution to our dear friend, Amy and prayers for healing.

Thank you for the bottom of my heart and hers.

Kirsten

"We all do better when we all do better", P. Wellstone