Support Lynne Farkas in Her Health Battle

Nearing the end of January of 2025, my Mom, Lynne Farkas, began experiencing increased weakness in her arms and legs. Of course, thinking she had just overworked herself and pinched a nerve or something, she took some sick days and tried to push through this. But, she couldn't. She was getting worse. Soon she could no longer raise her arms and could barely get into a car because she could barely lift her legs off of the ground without assistance. Terrified of what was now happening, she went in to see her doctor. Upon arriving to the doctor, her blood pressure had dangerously reached 230/170. They were able to get her blood pressure down, and began investigating if she may have had a stroke because of the severity of her symptoms. After tests, it was determined that this was not the case, but if not, what was wrong? There were no answers.

Unable to even walk across the store where she used to clock in around 10,000 steps a day, she had to take a medical leave of absence at the beginning of February. She thought it would be just a few weeks, now the weeks have turned into months without being able to work.

She's had extensive blood work, tried various medications, and has gotten multiple CT scans and MRIs, but no answers. She's tried chiropractic and physical therapy along with all of the other things suggested. She's experienced negative reactions to some of the medications, she became so inflamed that she could barely move, her hands were so swollen they didn't look like they even belonged to her. When we were able to get this somewhat under control, she had told me jokingly that she was never so happy to see wrinkles come back to her hands! Luckily, she's been able to hold on to a sense of humor! :) My mom lives an active life. She loves spending time with her family, friends and grandchildren. She's always outside enjoying the sunshine or even the snow with her dog Calee. She has an active job as well and isn't one to sit around. This sickness has stolen that.

The fear and anxiety of the unknown has taken a toll, I can see it at every test or scan. I could see the feeling of defeat creep in, as she allowed me to push her in a wheelchair through the hospital, because she her body wouldn't cooperate to get her to the waiting room.

Shes rarely able to drive, its painful to turn the steering wheel. We thankfully live very close, and I am able to take her to her appointments. She has changed her diet per doctors orders, which meant having to make her meals with fresh produce. She's needed assistance to prepare these meals, as her arms won't allow her to hold up utensils to cook or chop up vegetables. My family and brother Matt have been there to support her with this, often cooking many meals at a time. But there's been days that I've seen her struggling to bring a fork to her mouth to even eat the food prepared. Her symptoms have moved through her body starting in her thighs, moving down her legs, and moving down her arms, now affecting her hands and fingers. It's painful for her to write.

This week we are going to see the Rheumatologist and the following week, the Neurologist. We've been waiting for these appointments, hoping and praying for some answers. There were some possible concerns on her brain scan, and also some blood work that indicated the presence of an autoimmune component. But nothing we know for sure.

As her daughter, all I know is that everything is not okay right now and that sometimes it's quite a long road to finding answers. I don't want the financial burden of this already horrific onset to make this even harder for her to overcome. That's what brings us to this page my friends, to ask for help for her. If you know my Mom, that's something she has a difficult time doing, because she has a very independent spirit. This wonderful woman is not only my Mom, but honestly my best friend in this entire world. She's been there for me through the rollercoaster of my own autoimmune conditions (amongst so many other things), and she was there every step of the way on my brother's journey to kick cancer's ass when he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

So now it's our turn to help her, and if any of you would consider being a part of it, I know that it would mean the world to her and to our family. We're trying to raise enough money to cover her out of pocket medical expenses, and help her out with bills so she can stay afloat during this storm.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to read this, any donations and prayers would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Candice McLain & Matt VanDerPloeg