Help Kim Get Life-Saving Surgery for Rare Disorder

Hello, my name is Kimberly. I am reaching out to share my journey and invite your support as I prepare for vital surgery that could potentially save my life. This surgery offers my best and possibly last chance to regain the ability to eat and drink and reduce the extreme chronic pain I experience daily. Unfortunately, the surgery is very costly, leaving me with an already substantial financial burden. I need to raise funds to help cover the surgery expenses and humbly ask for your support.

A little bit about me: At 43, I decided to go back to school and attended design classes for interior design. Ironically, my favorite projects became refurbishing and bringing new life to dining room tables, as they hold so much laughter and dear memories. I have a special love of giraffes (did you know they can stand and run within a few hours of being born?) #giraffestrong. I drive my husband nuts with how many we have. I’m married to a wonderful man, David, who has been my rock every step of the way. He has two children, Kennedy and Patrick, whom I adore. I have a wonderful son, Manny, who has always been my light, whom I brought up as a single mom when his dad passed away at a very young age. Together, we have a wonderful blended family.

In 2018, I embarked on running the Boston Marathon, notorious for being one of the worst marathons on record due to the weather. I ran and raised money in honor of first responders. Throughout months of training, I faced physical challenges, but my determination and commitment kept me going. I have never been one to give up on a cause I believe in. On April 16, 2018, I crossed the finish line with two battered knees, failing health (which I didn’t know at that time), and in freezing temperatures (in the 30s, with a 29-degree wind chill, 30 mph wind, and 100% rain). I did it!

Two weeks later, I started to become extremely ill. I was admitted to the hospital multiple times, including over 60 times to the ER and twice in the ICU. Doctors could not figure out what was wrong. Boston is fortunately the hub for so many severe health issues, but unfortunately, doesn’t know much about these particular rare compression disorders. The next several years were followed by surgeries (Nissen fundoplication), where I had my fundus wrapped around the top portion of my esophagus to stop my stomach acid from causing ulcers in my throat and mouth. Shortly after that, I had a feeding tube placed. Next was a diagnosis of Nutcracker syndrome, for which I had open surgery to save my left kidney and a stent put in my renal vein. I had Pelvic congestion syndrome, for which I had metal coils placed in the collateral veins throughout my pelvis that were created by my blood not flowing. A year later, I had another open surgery, which included a Strong’s procedure, followed by an open emergency surgery where they took out 10 inches of my intestine because my intestine was 100% blocked. At this visit, I had a PICC line placed (it’s a line that goes directly to my heart; it delivers all my nutrition) and a PEG tube put into my stomach that drains my bile. I’ve had them for the past year and four months (it’s my life support). I completely lost the ability to eat and drink anything except water.

The condition I’m undergoing surgery for is Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS), or Wilkie's syndrome (only an estimated 0.013% of the world population have this rare disorder, which is why there are not many skilled surgeons). I am speaking and plan to work with a surgeon who has an exceptionally high success rate. He is the only surgeon in the world to perform this life-saving surgery. This rare condition has a 33% mortality rate and is often diagnosed at autopsy. SMAS is characterized by the compression of the duodenum (the second portion of the small intestine) between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta, leading to restricted blood flow and the inability to eat. As a result, severe malnutrition, chronic pain, and other serious complications ensue.

By the grace of God, I’m still here, and I won’t stop fighting!

I am deeply grateful for any contribution, regardless of the amount, as it will bring me closer to achieving this life-changing goal. If a financial donation is not feasible, sharing my story with others would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for considering any level of support. Your generosity is truly invaluable to me. Please everyone have a happy, healthy 2025 !!

Humbly and with much love, Kimberly Walsh Dahn

Romans 5:3-5, : "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.".