Over a year ago, Mihkenna was a healthy, happy-go-lucky 15-year old straight A student.  She loved school, running, going out with her best friend, and playing with her pet dachshund, Itzy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Dog.  Mihkenna loves everyone she meets (on two legs or four), and to meet her is to love her right back.

A year ago last August, symptoms began to appear.  After many visits to different doctors and several tests and procedures,  Mihkenna  wound up in the hospital with severe dehydration and potassium deficiency.

With no energy and no way to retain food or fluid orally, she currently survives on intravenous nutrition through a picc line in her chest, though her symptoms of fatigue, dizziness,  nausea, vomiting, bloating, and constant abdominal pain have not resolved.

Months of expensive doctor visits and hospital stays have yielded no solution.  Being told “I cannot help you” or that it was simply emotional have been their answers until two weeks ago.  A new doctor has diagnosed her with MALS  (median arcuate ligament syndrome) where the celiac artery is compressed causing severe abdominal pain and SMAS (superior mesenteric artery syndrome) which has obstructed her small intestine.  

There is hope.  With this new diagnosis, a complicated surgery is possible, available in Los Angeles, California.  Insurance will not cover out-of-state medical expenses.  Mihkenna needs surgery now as her liver has been affected by the TPN and may not tolerate the iv feeds much longer.  

Will you please help this family cover the costs of the surgery?