Rare Disease Support for Emily Feehan

Hi, my name is Jaimi Smiley. Please read a dear friend's story.

From the family of Emily Feehan:

In 2020, Emily Feehan worked full-time caring for others in her community while also being an active mother of 3. She started going to the Emergency Room in Winona due to concerning symptoms she was experiencing. Emily suffered from rashes, fever, sore throat, and constant pain that felt like pins and needles. The medical providers were unsure of what was going on. With much insistence from those closest to her, she finally went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, in 2021 for a more in-depth evaluation and was immediately put on cardiac monitoring.

Emily's health quickly declined, and she was hospitalized for two months. Due to COVID, she was limited to one or two visitors, so she could not see her children regularly. The kids were unsure of what was happening, which created worries about when they would see their mother again. In October 2021, she was diagnosed with rare inflammatory arthritis called Still’s Disease. It has impacted her joints severely, limiting her mobility.

During this time, Emily has had a multitude of tests and evaluations. She needed help walking, writing, and dressing. This required her to relearn how to manage daily tasks. For a brief time, Emily was relocated for rehabilitation in the twin cities. Due to the level of care required, Emily returned to Mayo Clinic in Rochester as she continued experiencing complications from the disease. Emily was eventually released home with a list of recommendations and a plan of care to follow. This has included multiple days of physical therapy, daily medications, monthly injections and trial treatments of weekly infusions.

The treatment she has received has reduced some of the inflammation, but the disease has eliminated her immune system making her susceptible to illness. The disease has triggered additional autoimmune conditions as well. As you can imagine, this has taken a toll on Emily and her family as they deal with the grief of what life looks like with the ongoing medical needs.

Currently, Emily needs support from others and pursues an array of ongoing assessments as recommended by her team. She uses a walker or wheelchair to get around, continues to have pain constantly and always feels exhausted. It has been extremely challenging for her to ask for help, but as a family, they are struggling with medical bills and the cost of living. In addition, Emily has been unable to work, so we are asking for financial assistance to reduce some of the stress the family has felt while they continue to navigate their new normal. Anything to help them get through this difficult time is appreciated.