Support Erin's Urgent Medical Journey

We are writing this to share with you that Erin, our loved one, is facing an intense medical situation and procedure and needs our help.

Erin originally began having various strange pelvic symptoms, but it was ruled as just a part of the beginning of perimenopause. However, they persisted and increased, and she was given a full work up. They discovered cervical pre-cancerous cells, as well as multiple large growths in the uterus and surrounding the right ovary. She also had significant triple prolapse, due to normal pelvic floor weakness combined with the weight of the growths/uterus. In order to act swiftly and thoroughly, this Monday 12/9 Erin will undergo surgery. But this morning she received a call from her surgeon, that the pre-op ultrasound showed such a rapid and significant increase in size of the masses that her uterus is now the size of a 20-week pregnancy, and she has Stage 3 prolapse. She is now no longer eligible for an internal or laparoscopic procedure but an abdominal full hysterectomy, unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and sacrocolpopexy to repair the prolapse once the hysterectomy portion of the surgery is complete. This creates increased risk as the surgery will now be considerably longer and at a higher chance for complications, with a full recovery time now of 6-8 weeks. Once the surgery is complete, all organs, growths and biopsied surrounding tissue will be sent to Pathology for examination and testing, with results and/or treatment plan expected within the week.

As you may know, Erin has been working 2 jobs and helping care for her family and most recently newborn granddaughter. This, if you know her, has always been her way. However, with the premature arrival of the baby and her diagnosis, Erin’s employer would not accommodate the time off needed due to some key projects occurring at this time, so she will not have paid leave as well as will be losing her secondary income during recovery. On top of all this her van broke down on the way to Viroqua to help support a friend in mourning, and they just found out that it is beyond reasonable repair, so they are facing the loss of their only vehicle as well. Which considering that they live rurally, makes transportation more difficult, especially to post-op appointments. With all of this and both Raia and Aila being FT students along with Aila’s internship hours and Raia having a new baby; a lot will be falling onto Ben in Erin’s absence. This is where we are hoping that we can rally for our amazing friend, and come together to help support her through this scary time. Here’s what we are asking:

CARE: In the couple days prior to surgery and through the following week, some of her closest friends will be taking shifts to stay and help take care of her and support the family. If you are available to help in this way if needed, please reach out to Heidi-Mae Wilkins and she will be in touch. NOURISHMENT: Any healthy groceries and/or meals are welcome. If you are able to support in this way in person, please sign up at the Meal Train link and deliver per the instructions: https://mealtrain.com/gde73l

If you are in the Viroqua area and able to make a meal but unable to deliver, please contact Elizabeth Tigan and it will be sent with one of the caregivers from the area in the coming week and frozen ahead. If you are long distance, gift cards for local groceries can be purchased at Krogers.com, and for meals at DoorDash.com.

Also, herbal and other alternative healing support is very welcome and appreciated.

FINANCIAL: With the aforementioned circumstances of lost income and transportation and everything falling on the holidays, anything that people can spare is greatly appreciated and if you can share it, please do. Erin’s income helps support the whole family, but a solid portion has been going towards Raia/Nyara for months as Raia works to finish her nursing degree and give the best life she can to her daughter. So everything that they receive will be used to keep the family afloat and able to focus on Erin’s healing and not overwhelming stress. So please click the link to give, and share.

If you have made it this far, then we know that you love Erin as much as we do. And while we are family, we know that when she loves she loves hard, and she considers all of you her family too with equal measure. Blood has never meant a difference in how she shows up for those lucky enough to be loved by her, and she has gone above and beyond for strangers, for her people, for her beliefs and has put herself on the line many times doing just that. She has held mothers as they grieved their children and taken care of their still bodies so that they can say their goodbyes, she has stood in front of fists to help stop the abuse of her sisters, she has helped birth many children, she has put her body on the frontlines in the streets and on frozen oil pipelines; and she fought for her children through the worst thing she herself as a mother has faced and she is very much why they are on the successful paths that they are on, whether she’d agree herself or not. And that is why we love her so much, and want to see her on the other side of this moment healthy, happy and fighting the good fight for another 40 years.

Thank you ❤️