Sharon Chen's Major Abdominal Repair Surgery

Story

Sharon Chen normally does not share much about her personal medical history publicly; she prefers to keep her medical information private and confidential. She tries to always be positive, happy, cheerful, and bubbly to everyone she meets. However, she's going through a really difficult time right now and genuinely needs our help. She's having major abdominal/intestinal repair surgery on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. As some of you may know, in the past, Sharon had numerous weight-related medical issues including morbid obesity, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, severe back and knee pain, hiatal hernia, etc. Sharon had bariatric/weight loss surgery (duodenal switch) in Raleigh on October 6, 2014. Her bariatric surgeon reduced the size of her stomach by 80% and also re-routed her intestines. The surgeon also repaired her hiatal hernia and removed her gallbladder during this medical procedure. Most of her major medical issues mentioned above were resolved as a result, for which is extremely grateful. However, since Sharon’s initial surgery, she’s had some complications/side effects including excruciating abdominal pain, cramping, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and other major digestive issues. To her, it feels like her stomach/intestines are in the midst of exploding. She barely eats anything and is in almost constant pain. Despite her severe pain, she forces a smile on her face, tries her best to hide her suffering, and rarely complains about her health. Sharon has multiple nutritional vitamin deficiencies and has to take many daily vitamins including expensive, specially formulated bariatric multivitamins high in vitamins A, D, E, and K, calcium citrate, magnesium, potassium citrate, vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, biotin, zinc, probiotics, Metamucil, Miralax, and other supplements. In 2023, she completed a round of iron infusions because she was seriously deficient in iron. In addition, she's a domestic violence survivor and survived extreme, horrific physical, verbal/emotional/psychological, sexual abuse, incest, violence, trauma, and molestation perpetrated by family members throughout her childhood and men she dated as an adult. She's been diagnosed with and is being treated for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)/panic attacks, complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine headaches, severe insomnia, and hypothyroidism, all of which she takes prescription medications for. She sees a psychiatrist approximately once a month and also sees a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) who specializes in trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and mood disorders on a weekly basis. Sharon has seen her bariatric surgeon multiple times regarding her severe abdominal pain. Her surgeon decided to perform emergency diagnostic laparoscopy surgery on December 20, 2019. The surgeon removed adhesions and scar tissue from around her stomach and intestines. Her abdominal pain improved a little following the emergency diagnostic laparoscopy, but she still suffers from excruciating abdominal/intestinal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and other digestive issues. Sharon's bariatric surgeon did everything he could, but didn’t know how else to improve her abdominal pain, so he referred her to a Gastroenterologist in Raleigh, whom she's seen multiple times. The Gastroenterologist ran multiple tests including X-rays and diagnosed her with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and tried multiple prescription medications, including an antibiotic called Xifaxan, which helped temporarily, but none of the medications were helpful in treating her abdominal/intestinal pain long-term. Her quality of life is majorly affected by this excruciating abdominal/intestinal pain, and we simply want her to be relieved of her pain. Sharon lost her job due to COVID-19 and has found temporary office work since then, but it does not offer health/vision/dental insurance, vacation, PTO, sick pay, or any other benefits. She's currently self-employed and works tirelessly at five different contract and freelance paid positions including assisting the U.S. Armed Forces with their Mandarin Chinese speaking skills (as a Private Military Contractor), as a Mandarin Chinese Speaking Private Tutor, as an Independent Film & Media Contractor, as a Freelance Writer/Editor, and as a Social Media Marketing Consultant. Sharon is scheduled to have major abdominal repair surgery in Raleigh on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. She was forced to pay for the surgery completely out-of-pocket and had to pay for it using CareCredit (healthcare/medical credit card) as well as other credit cards. She recently had a Will, General Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney/Living Will, and Authorization for the Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information documents drawn up by an estate planning attorney in case the unimaginable were to occur. However, Sharon’s surgeon is very optimistic and confident this surgery will decrease/eliminate her abdominal pain and improve her digestive issues, irritable bowel syndrome, and most importantly, improve her health and quality of life. Sharon’s surgeon mandated bed rest for 2 weeks. She was recently offered a full-time job opportunity with benefits but had to decline since the employer needed someone to start working immediately. They could not wait until she’s fully healed by the first week of December. She will have no income for at least a month and has living expenses to pay (rent, renter's insurance, electric, water, cell phone, doctor's appointments, vitamins and supplements, prescription medications, car insurance, gas, etc) in addition to her medical loan debt (CareCredit) and student loan debt of $40K from UNC-Chapel Hill. We’ve set a goal of $25K to cover her surgeries, medical procedures, prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements, medical supplies, medical debt, aftercare supplies, other healthcare expenses, and lost wages/income due to not being able to work while she's recovering from her surgery. If you know Sharon at all, you know she’s a very sweet, kind, caring, warmhearted, and altruistic woman who goes above and beyond to help others. Sharon spends a lot of her free time assisting others by performing charity work, volunteering at UNC-Chapel Hill, promoting non-profit organizations and small business owners, and helping local and state politicians and elected government officials with their campaigns. Sharon feels incredibly fortunate and grateful to have all of you in her life. She cannot thank you enough for the massive outpouring of friendship, love, kindness, support, empathy, compassion, altruism, care, concern, understanding, and generosity she's received all her friends and loved ones, even from complete strangers. She sincerely thanks everyone from the bottom of her heart. Thank you so much for reading this GoFundMe page. We greatly appreciate your support, and a donation in any amount truly helps.

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As some of you may know, in the past, Sharon had numerous weight-related medical issues including morbid obesity, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, severe back and knee pain, hiatal hernia, etc.

Sharon had bariatric/weight loss surgery (duodenal switch) in Raleigh on October 6, 2014. Her bariatric surgeon reduced the size of her stomach by 80% and also re-routed her intestines. The surgeon also repaired her hiatal hernia and removed her gallbladder during this medical procedure. Most of her major medical issues mentioned above were resolved as a result, for which is extremely grateful.

However, since Sharon’s initial surgery, she’s had some complications/side effects including excruciating abdominal pain, cramping, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and other major digestive issues. To her, it feels like her stomach/intestines are in the midst of exploding. She barely eats anything and is in almost constant pain. Despite her severe pain, she forces a smile on her face, tries her best to hide her suffering, and rarely complains about her health.

Sharon has multiple nutritional vitamin deficiencies and has to take many daily vitamins including expensive, specially formulated bariatric multivitamins high in vitamins A, D, E, and K, calcium citrate, magnesium, potassium citrate, vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, biotin, zinc, probiotics, Metamucil, Miralax, and other supplements. In 2023, she completed a round of iron infusions because she was seriously deficient in iron.

In addition, she's a domestic violence survivor and survived extreme, horrific physical, verbal/emotional/psychological, sexual abuse, incest, violence, trauma, and molestation perpetrated by family members throughout her childhood and men she dated as an adult.

She's been diagnosed with and is being treated for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)/panic attacks, complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine headaches, severe insomnia, and hypothyroidism, all of which she takes prescription medications for.

She sees a psychiatrist approximately once a month and also sees a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) who specializes in trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and mood disorders on a weekly basis.

Sharon has seen her bariatric surgeon multiple times regarding her severe abdominal pain. Her surgeon decided to perform emergency diagnostic laparoscopy surgery on December 20, 2019. The surgeon removed adhesions and scar tissue from around her stomach and intestines.

Her abdominal pain improved a little following the emergency diagnostic laparoscopy, but she still suffers from excruciating abdominal/intestinal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and other digestive issues.

Sharon's bariatric surgeon did everything he could, but didn’t know how else to improve her abdominal pain, so he referred her to a Gastroenterologist in Raleigh, whom she's seen multiple times. The Gastroenterologist ran multiple tests including X-rays and diagnosed her with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and tried multiple prescription medications, including an antibiotic called Xifaxan, which helped temporarily, but none of the medications were helpful in treating her abdominal/intestinal pain long-term.

Her quality of life is majorly affected by this excruciating abdominal/intestinal pain, and we simply want her to be relieved of her pain.

Sharon lost her job due to COVID-19 and has found temporary office work since then, but it does not offer health/vision/dental insurance, vacation, PTO, sick pay, or any other benefits.

She's currently self-employed and works tirelessly at five different contract and freelance paid positions including assisting the U.S. Armed Forces with their Mandarin Chinese speaking skills (as a Private Military Contractor), as a Mandarin Chinese Speaking Private Tutor, as an Independent Film & Media Contractor, as a Freelance Writer/Editor, and as a Social Media Marketing Consultant.

Sharon is scheduled to have major abdominal repair surgery in Raleigh on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. She was forced to pay for the surgery completely out-of-pocket and had to pay for it using CareCredit (healthcare/medical credit card) as well as other credit cards.

She recently had a Will, General Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney/Living Will, and Authorization for the Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information documents drawn up by an estate planning attorney in case the unimaginable were to occur.

However, Sharon’s surgeon is very optimistic and confident this surgery will decrease/eliminate her abdominal pain and improve her digestive issues, irritable bowel syndrome, and most importantly, improve her health and quality of life.

Sharon’s surgeon mandated bed rest for 2 weeks. She was recently offered a full-time job opportunity with benefits but had to decline since the employer needed someone to start working immediately. They could not wait until she’s fully healed by the first week of December.

She will have no income for at least a month and has living expenses to pay (rent, renter's insurance, electric, water, cell phone, doctor's appointments, vitamins and supplements, prescription medications, car insurance, gas, etc) in addition to her medical loan debt (CareCredit) and student loan debt of $40K from UNC-Chapel Hill.

We’ve set a goal of $25K to cover her surgeries, medical procedures, prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements, medical supplies, medical debt, aftercare supplies, other healthcare expenses, and lost wages/income due to not being able to work while she's recovering from her surgery.

If you know Sharon at all, you know she’s a very sweet, kind, caring, warmhearted, and altruistic woman who goes above and beyond to help others. Sharon spends a lot of her free time assisting others by performing charity work, volunteering at UNC-Chapel Hill, promoting non-profit organizations and small business owners, and helping local and state politicians and elected government officials with their campaigns.

Sharon feels incredibly fortunate and grateful to have all of you in her life. She cannot thank you enough for the massive outpouring of friendship, love, kindness, support, empathy, compassion, altruism, care, concern, understanding, and generosity she's received all her friends and loved ones, even from complete strangers. She sincerely thanks everyone from the bottom of her heart.

Thank you so much for reading this GoFundMe page. We greatly appreciate your support, and a donation in any amount truly helps.