Written by Dear Loving Friend JANET BAKER:

Dear loving friends and family, please take a moment to read and share my friend’s story; I want to help her get the medical treatment she needs. Stephanie Bell was diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis on 03/17/2022; Multiple Sclerosis is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (Central nervous system). In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers the nerve fibers and causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. MS causes loss of body functions and could result in numbness, vision problems, difficulty walking and paralysis. Stephanie’s first symptoms were Lower Back Pain with Radiating Symptoms in her Lower Right Leg, Severe Neck Headaches with Arm and Hand Numbness with tingling in her feet and hands and generalized discomfort. She received treatment at University Health Hospital, felt a slight remission, and returned to work. All was well until July when it came back with a vengeance; Stephanie was hospitalized at University Health and treated with Prednisone 1000MG IV Steroid for 5 Days. She returned to work, and her Symptoms Continued and became Worsened To the point of inability to walk hardly. The neurologist decided to Admit on Aug 29th through the ICU to do a Treatment of Plasma Exchange which kept Stephanie in the hospital for 13 Days. She then had complications from the plasma exchange and landed back in University Health for another ten days into Sept. Stephanie can no longer drive, No longer work, and No longer do the independent things she has been doing for her entire life, including being the best Mimi she could be to Arribella, her granddaughter. Her diagnosis has got her life in pause mode. And her loving husband, Glen, is working as much as possible to stay on top of their daily life bills; anything extra seems impossible.

She has been referred to a Mayo Clinic appointment and was pushed through the long, usually 2–4-week process in a matter of days. They scheduled her for Nov 10th, but the costs associated with getting to the appointment concern her and her family. Unfortunately, Her Husband, Glen, cannot miss work to go with her and has asked her best friend, Shelly, to go with her. She was graciously able to take PTO to go with Stephanie to assist her Mentally and Physically while traveling. While staying there, she will not be alone per the medical provider’s request. She needs the treatment that the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota can offer her, but the expense of getting there and back is daunting. She cannot ride in a car without severe pain trying to make that trip, so there is Airfare, Hotel stays, and bare minimum travel expenses. As a friend, Stephanie and Glen would give their shirt off their back to help others. Can we help her in her time of need? I would like to see her get enough for her travel expenses multiple times, along with some savings needed until she can get well enough to get back to work. We all know times are complex, and the economy is in dire shape, so every dollar counts, no matter how large or small.

Average Costs with Discount Travel Expenses:

Hotel $100 per Night

Food daily: $50

Flight: 350 Per Person

Medical Expenses Should be covered by Health care insurance