<div>I am writing to try to help raise funds to allow my daughter to attend a BAKA (Bilateral Above Knee Amputee) Seminar/ Boot Camp, being held in KC, Mo. this Fall.
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<div>As much as Melissa wants to go, this isnt exactly a pleasure trip. This is a collaboration of Physical Therapists/ Physicians and their Patients, coming together to try out new and innovative procedures to help improve the lives of their patients; and perhaps a chance for their patients to find some inspiration in the stories of others who are facing similar challenges of living with multiple limb amputations.
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<div>I believe there comes a time in everyone's life, that the problems and issues of this world feel almost insurmountable. In an effort to gain support and hope, we seek to find others who have not only traveled down similar pathways, but have successfully continued their journey. My daughter, is in fact one of those beautiful souls who has been struggling to reach outside of her circumstances and rise above the Trials and Tribulations that she has endured, going on 8 years now.
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<div>Allow me to tell you the story of one of the strongest women I know of, my daughter Melissa Groves. You may believe I am a bit biased and you could be right...but allow me to tell you a small amount of her story and perhaps you will also come to see that in this world of constant chaos there are still people who do their best to rise above it all; they live and give from their heart, regardless of how hard it may be or how many times this world knocks them down.
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<div>As you can see she is truly beautiful…but not just physically. This Woman’s heart is so amazing that her beautiful spirit knows no bounds.
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<div>Many, many already know shortly after getting married she found that she and her husband could not have children of their own…they became foster parents, praying and hoping that they would eventually find a child who needed them as much as they needed the child.
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<div>To make a long story short She and her husband are now the proud parents of 11 children, 9 adopted biological brothers and 2 natural children of their own.
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<div>During this phase of their lives there were so many ups and downs and twists and turns that at times they weren’t quite sure whether the path they had embarked on would turn out for best for them but they chose to continue, trusting that God had a plan in place to see them through. About the time that Melissa and her husband Scott had been placed with their 9th son(January 2015), Melissa began having issues with pain and swelling in her right leg. Over several months and countless dr appts, her dr struggled to figure out what the cause was...he had various suspicions but couldn’t find anything definite. When she continued to get the run around from her Dr, Melissa scheduled an appt. with an orthopedic specialist(Sept 2015). Upon attending the appt. the Ortho Doctor called another specialist (vascular surgeon) who demanded that Melissa immediately be admitted to the hospital. It was discovered that she had multiple blood clots in the main Artery of her leg...they tried different treatments, but all to no avail and in the end -after a month of being in the hospital, dealing with sepsis, kidney failure, necrotizing fasciitis, etc. they were forced to amputate her right leg above the knee, to save her life. To say that this was a life changing event for her and her family is an understatement. So many obstacles to overcome and challenges to take on just so she could get back to being the Mom she had always been and wanted to be for her children. And darned if she didn’t manage to do just that. With the help of blood thinners and constant health care she began to believe that things were starting to look up, This included the SURPRISE event of Melissa becoming pregnant with her second biological child after nearly 20 years. To say they were shocked, yet feeling blessed is putting it mildly. Scott and her were amazed and slightly fearful about what was to come but they were definitely looking forward to this little gift from God.
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<div>One of the new normals for Melissa’s health regiment was a change in her blood thinner...to one that would be safe to use during the pregnancy. They made the switch; but within a few months (23wks) Melissa was admitted for preterm labor; it was discovered she had a placental abruption; baby would have to be delivered, immediately.
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<div>In a matter of minutes Melissa’s hopes and dreams for this little miracle baby came crashing down as Drs explained the potential risks of delivering a baby so premature.
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<div>Baby Bennett Jack was born October 29th, 2020 weighing a mere 1lb 8oz/680g and 11.37” long. Things were very touch and go for those first few months, almost losing “lil B” twice. As you can imagine trying to juggle family life (7 other children at home) and a very medically fragile preemie in the nicu, an hour away, was not an easy task. How Melissa and Scott managed, I’ll never know, but after 135 days, Bennett would get to go home, in March 2021. Melissa and Scott were overjoyed to finally have their family all under the same roof. However, just as it seemed they were beginning to get a good routine down, Melissa was admitted into the hospital, yet again.
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<div>It turns out the new blood thinners were not strong enough to keep the blood clots at bay and once again Melissa was producing clots at an exponential rate. A bypass surgery was performed, unfortunately just as before, it did not work. After several days, it was decided Melissa’s left leg would need to be amputated, above the knee as well.
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<div>It’s been a little over 2yrs since then and though this latest amputation has come with more challenges than even Melissa expected, she has done remarkably well at adjusting both mentally and physically.
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<div>For sometime she attended physical therapy 2x/wk in Omaha(over an hour away) but due to finances, changes in work schedules, and the inability to drive herself, she was forced to quit going.
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<div>This is the point she and her family are at right now. Melissa feels she’s hit a bit of a wall when it comes to her progress, motivation and longs for some help. She knows that this is not the end-all of her life and hopes, but she is wearing down and truly needs this BAKA boot camp -to meet others who have gone through the same things and come out on the other side feeling stronger more confident than she is right now.
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<div>And as much as I want this for her; unfortunately, I am not in the position to help her at this time..so I am hoping that perhaps others who read my words, might possibly find it in their hearts to either pass this message on to friends and family, or even better yet possibly donate a few dollars in the hopes of making her dream of attending the BAKA Bootcamp in Sept . 2023, come true.
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<div>Funds raised will go toward registration, travel, hotel, child care, and missed work hours, as Scott will have to accompany her. 
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<div>I sincerely thank each and everyone of you for your support and I pray that each of you are Blessed for your kindness.
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<div>Sincerely,
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<div>Marie W.
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<div>Melissa Groves (mother)
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Nancy Lohrmeyer

Atheana Phelps

JoLeen Rasmussen

Anonymous

Jodi Aldous

Kayleen Carlson

Bennett Melissa

Jill Cisar

Beth Schaben

Leanne Herman

Rachel Melby

Cheri Golden

Brandy Neely

Theresa McCann

Help Melissa go to BAKA Bootcamp this Fall

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