On July 26, our mom Nancy started experiencing a frightening neurological episode where she has become extremely dizzy and unable to stand or walk on her own. The night of the 25th she was feeling “off” and went to bed early. She woke up at 5 am extremely dizzy and nauseous before even sitting up in bed. She experienced difficulty concentrating and had some memory loss the week leading up to this. She was brought to the Grand Itasca ER around 7:30 am where she underwent testing including bloodwork, a CT scan, and a MRI. She was told there were concerning results from the MRI, and was later given a spinal tap. She passed out during the spinal tap. After this she was given antibiotics through IV as one of a couple possibilities is an infection in her brain.

She was then transferred to St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, MN, for further evaluation. There, she received additional tests to include another CT, two more MRIs, again with signs of a possible infection at the base of her brain, potentially affecting her nervous system. She remained very dizzy all of the 26th and in to the 27th.

Doctors are still uncertain if this is solely due to an infection or if there’s a more serious underlying condition. St. Mary’s is now considering transferring her to the Mayo Clinic for more advanced testing and care. As of now, no definitive diagnosis has been made, just a growing list of possibilities and the need for continued investigation and support.

As her children, we are setting up this fundraiser on her behalf. She’s the kind of person who always puts others first and never wants to be a burden. We need to make sure she gets the help she needs without the added weight of financial stress.

The reality is: even with insurance, the cost of modern medical care in the U.S. including ambulance transport, hospital stays, multiple scans and specialist follow-ups is overwhelming. Deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses , and ongoing care will add up quickly. We want her to be able to focus on getting this figured out, healing, and to not worry over the hospital bills.

All donations will go directly toward covering her medical expenses, travel to specialists if needed, follow-up treatment, and any additional care she may require as we navigate the unknown.

This is our first update on the matter. Please check back for further information as we learn more.

If you’re able to contribute or even just share this, it would mean the world to us. Thank you for supporting our mom and helping us make sure she’s not facing this alone.