After a summer of dealing with unexplained illnesses, my daughter Katelyn experienced a severe Lupus flare and was consequently diagnosed with Lupus. On September 15th, we were thankfully at the University of Iowa ED when she lost sensation in both her legs from the hips down and movement from her belly button down due to swelling in her spinal cord. Strong steroids were started immediately, and Katelyn spent 12 days in the hospital receiving some intense medical interventions (plasmapheresis, low-dose chemotherapy) and was then sent to a rehab hospital. She is scheduled to leave rehab on October 14th. While there have been small improvements in her leg sensation and hip movement, and we are hopeful for a full recovery, progress has been slow and Katelyn will be heading home in a wheelchair. It will take months to a year to know what Katelyn’s new normal will be.

As many of you know, Katelyn is a nurse, and this has enabled her to be her own best advocate. She has worked so hard to get her body to “wake up.” Katelyn had been working PRN, meaning she makes a good wage but receives no benefits such as paid time off or short-term disability. She is covered by her husband Mac’s health insurance.

Many people have been praying for Katelyn and still asking what else they can do to help. Since Katelyn will be unable to work while she is healing and receiving intensive OT and PT therapies and continued medical interventions, I have set up this page for those that would like to lighten the financial burden this unexpected circumstance has created.