
Lauren's Medical Treatment
Donation protected
Approx. four years ago our sister, daughter, mother, and friend, Lauren was diagnosed with a benign tumor at the cortex of her brain.
There have been several trips to seek professional help, many trial and error runs through various medications, and a lot of unanswered questions regarding the progression of her physical and medical state.
Lauren and her family have been working tirelessly to stay on top of her check-ups, treatments, and dietary restrictions for several years now.
While benign, this tumor has lead to other medical conditions that continue to hinder her ability to work full time and stay on top of the cost of living, medical bills, and the luxury of raising her 9 year old son Braylon to the best of her ability.
These conditions include but are not limited to: rapid weight loss, seizures which were medicated however came sporadically, loss of muscle, lack of consistent memory, fatigue, mood swings, etc.
In October Lauren was hospitalized for three days with a kidney infection that infected her blood stream and caused extreme pain.
After treatment she continued to work and spend time with her son, however she was in similar pain, which she figured would fade after returning to her normal schedule.
However, in the past couple weeks she has been hospitalized for what we are seeking urgent help.
Her Nanny, a former nurse of 36 years, came to pick up her son and noticed Lauren was in a state of jaundice along with being bloated beyond normal proportions. She was immediately hospitalized and within 24 hours we were informed that she has 'ascites,' an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen that causes swelling. Ascites can not only be life threatening, but becomes increasingly more detrimental if there is infection. Unfortunately Lauren did become infected and it was then her doctors found out her liver is in cirrhosis. From the time she hit the hospital doors until she was sent home over a week later she retained 30 lbs of fluid.
She was drained of her fluid, monotored, and sent home with an entirely new regimen of medications and was told to monitor her weight and inches gained over the next few days with 1 inch or 3 lbs being a warning sign.
In four days she grew 2 inches and gained 5 lbs and had to be transported back to the hospital for further testing and treatment.
This process has been an uphill battle of which she continues to fight, however she is in dire need of a liver transplant. She does not meet eligability for a liver transplant until 6 months of close monitoring, however every day we go back and fourth trying to keep her enzyme levels maintained and her fluid down. This is a learning process for everyone involved and while we are all doing the best we can to follow doctor's orders this is completely new territory for all of us.
Lauren is unable to work at this time, has had several go arounds applying for assistance and insurance, of which she continues to look for help through hospital programs and other resources such as disability, but we need help with day to day until we can finally get some government assistance.
Our goal would help cover her medical and living bills, along with any medication she will need in the coming months. Helping Lauren not only gives her a better chance of making it to her liver transplant, but also gives her the opportunity to enjoy what time she has at home with her son, Braylon.
There have been several trips to seek professional help, many trial and error runs through various medications, and a lot of unanswered questions regarding the progression of her physical and medical state.
Lauren and her family have been working tirelessly to stay on top of her check-ups, treatments, and dietary restrictions for several years now.
While benign, this tumor has lead to other medical conditions that continue to hinder her ability to work full time and stay on top of the cost of living, medical bills, and the luxury of raising her 9 year old son Braylon to the best of her ability.
These conditions include but are not limited to: rapid weight loss, seizures which were medicated however came sporadically, loss of muscle, lack of consistent memory, fatigue, mood swings, etc.
In October Lauren was hospitalized for three days with a kidney infection that infected her blood stream and caused extreme pain.
After treatment she continued to work and spend time with her son, however she was in similar pain, which she figured would fade after returning to her normal schedule.
However, in the past couple weeks she has been hospitalized for what we are seeking urgent help.
Her Nanny, a former nurse of 36 years, came to pick up her son and noticed Lauren was in a state of jaundice along with being bloated beyond normal proportions. She was immediately hospitalized and within 24 hours we were informed that she has 'ascites,' an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen that causes swelling. Ascites can not only be life threatening, but becomes increasingly more detrimental if there is infection. Unfortunately Lauren did become infected and it was then her doctors found out her liver is in cirrhosis. From the time she hit the hospital doors until she was sent home over a week later she retained 30 lbs of fluid.
She was drained of her fluid, monotored, and sent home with an entirely new regimen of medications and was told to monitor her weight and inches gained over the next few days with 1 inch or 3 lbs being a warning sign.
In four days she grew 2 inches and gained 5 lbs and had to be transported back to the hospital for further testing and treatment.
This process has been an uphill battle of which she continues to fight, however she is in dire need of a liver transplant. She does not meet eligability for a liver transplant until 6 months of close monitoring, however every day we go back and fourth trying to keep her enzyme levels maintained and her fluid down. This is a learning process for everyone involved and while we are all doing the best we can to follow doctor's orders this is completely new territory for all of us.
Lauren is unable to work at this time, has had several go arounds applying for assistance and insurance, of which she continues to look for help through hospital programs and other resources such as disability, but we need help with day to day until we can finally get some government assistance.
Our goal would help cover her medical and living bills, along with any medication she will need in the coming months. Helping Lauren not only gives her a better chance of making it to her liver transplant, but also gives her the opportunity to enjoy what time she has at home with her son, Braylon.
Organizer
Kaitlan Lindquist
Organizer
The Woodlands, TX