- B
"My wife, Tessa, is a beautiful, amazing, loving, caring, and brilliant woman; however most days she spends in bed unable to do much without becoming completely exhausted. She is the backbone of this family, however the simplest of tasks are becoming harder for her to do. I wash her hair for her and assist with her bath, as her arms are too weak and cause too much pain for her to do so. She used to work a full time job, escorting entertainment vehicles & characters out into the theme park where she worked. Now, she needs an electric wheelchair to travel much distance at all. Stairs are a challenge for her, as she cannot do many steps without becoming tired and out of breath. We love her dearly, and do all we can do for her to the best of our ability. Your donations will allow us to care for her in the manner her Doctors feel is best."
~ M. Wolf Martinez
Tessa is a 41 year old daughter, wife, mother (of four), and first time Grandma. She's also living with three rare diseases, and numerous other medical conditions.
To list them, they are:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Dercum's Disease (or Adiposis Dolorosa)
Hidradenitis Suppurativa (Stage 3)
Lipedema
Secondary Lymphedema
Hypermobility Joint Syndrome (Ehlers-Danlos)
Insulin Resistance
IBS, Hypertension & PMDD.
The problem with all of these medical conditions is that the symptoms of each illness overlap, and often one condition will cause another to flare. In essence, her body is fighting itself. Her immune system is compromised, & her lymphatic system (which rids the body of toxins & waste) is completely malfunctioning.
Her major problem at the moment, is the aggressive pace at which the Dercum's Disease (DD) is attacking her body. DD is a rare condition that is characterized by multiple, painful fatty lipomas (benign, fatty tumors) in the body. In Tessa's case, her body is now filled with thousands of lumps. She even has them in her face, under her chin, & in her neck. The illness causes generalized obesity, weakness and fatigability; and mental disturbances, including emotional instability, depression, epilepsy, confusion and dementia. The pain can last for hours, can be paroxysmal (occurring only at certain times) or continuous, and worsens with movement. The condition can also be associated with early congestive heart failure, myxedema (a condition associated with severe hypothyroidism), joint pain, paroxysmal flushing episodes, tremors, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin), hypertension (high blood pressure), headaches, and epistaxis (nosebleeds). There is no cure, & no ONE treatment that can alleviate the problems. Only the symptoms can be treated.
Because of the agressive pace of this disease & the ongoing symptoms of her other medical issues, Tessa's Doctors felt she was no longer able to work. She now requires a cane to get around short distances, and an electric wheelchair for longer distances. Some days, she can't even leave her bed to spend time with her family.
Medical bills are mounting, & treatment to keep her as healthy as possible, for as long as possible is quite expensive. One of the main things the Doctors & physical therapists have found that DOES help Tessa is a Flexitouch intermittent pneumatic compression device (lymphedema pump). Despite massive evidence that this pump allows great improvement with Tessa's condition, her insurance company denied it as "not medically necessary". The family can buy the pump outright from the company, but at a hefty price tag of nearly $7,000.
On top of the pump, her Doctors & therpists want her to have Manual Lymph Drainage therapy, including wrapping (bandaging) of her limbs, and customized compression gear. While her insurance will pay for some of this, the visits all have a $40.00 copayment. Therapists feel Tessa's level of impairment necessitates visits three times a week, which will cost that family $120.00 per week. Her Doctor also wants her to have warm pool physical therapy to try to help with her mobility issues. This also carries a copayment, and at two times a week, will be an additional $80.00 per week.
Tessa's medications currently cost around $170.00 per month, and that is without factoring in the cost of recommended suppliments her Doctors want her to use. Her dietary needs are very specific, which also comes with a hefty price tag to get the items her body needs.
The family recently moved to be closer to work, lower their mortgage, save on commuting tolls, gasoline, etc. However, the mounting medical expenses have negated the financial progress they were trying to make. The family is also short one full income from Tessa's full time job, since she is now disabled & no longer physically able to work. The financial burden of Tessa's medical bills & needs is so great that the family will be unable to meet her increasing needs.
Due to her size & mobility issues, her bathroom in her home needs to be modified to a handicapped accessible shower, for example.
Your generous donation will be used to help purchase the Flexitouch pump that Tessa desperately needs to get her lymphatic system functioning better & get that lymph fluid moving! It will also allow her to go to physical therapy, & lymphedema therapy (MLD, wrapping, compression), and to purchase her medications. It will also be used to pay for medical bills that are burdening the family. It would be nice if we were able to raise enough to also have her bathroom at home modified to accommodate her needs there as well.
We are extremely grateful for any and ALL assistance we receive. There is no such thing as TOO SMALL of a donation. Every penny helps in a situation like this! We thank you for your help & generosity from the bottom of our hearts.
With much gratitude,
The Lozano & Martinez Family
To read more about some of Tessa's medical conditions, please see the links below:
www.lipomadoc.org
https://www.genome.gov/17516629
http://www.tactilemedical.com/products/flexitouch/
http://www.livescience.com/26983-lymphatic-system.html
http://fatdisorders.org/
www.lupus.org
~ M. Wolf Martinez
Tessa is a 41 year old daughter, wife, mother (of four), and first time Grandma. She's also living with three rare diseases, and numerous other medical conditions.
To list them, they are:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Dercum's Disease (or Adiposis Dolorosa)
Hidradenitis Suppurativa (Stage 3)
Lipedema
Secondary Lymphedema
Hypermobility Joint Syndrome (Ehlers-Danlos)
Insulin Resistance
IBS, Hypertension & PMDD.
The problem with all of these medical conditions is that the symptoms of each illness overlap, and often one condition will cause another to flare. In essence, her body is fighting itself. Her immune system is compromised, & her lymphatic system (which rids the body of toxins & waste) is completely malfunctioning.
Her major problem at the moment, is the aggressive pace at which the Dercum's Disease (DD) is attacking her body. DD is a rare condition that is characterized by multiple, painful fatty lipomas (benign, fatty tumors) in the body. In Tessa's case, her body is now filled with thousands of lumps. She even has them in her face, under her chin, & in her neck. The illness causes generalized obesity, weakness and fatigability; and mental disturbances, including emotional instability, depression, epilepsy, confusion and dementia. The pain can last for hours, can be paroxysmal (occurring only at certain times) or continuous, and worsens with movement. The condition can also be associated with early congestive heart failure, myxedema (a condition associated with severe hypothyroidism), joint pain, paroxysmal flushing episodes, tremors, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin), hypertension (high blood pressure), headaches, and epistaxis (nosebleeds). There is no cure, & no ONE treatment that can alleviate the problems. Only the symptoms can be treated.
Because of the agressive pace of this disease & the ongoing symptoms of her other medical issues, Tessa's Doctors felt she was no longer able to work. She now requires a cane to get around short distances, and an electric wheelchair for longer distances. Some days, she can't even leave her bed to spend time with her family.
Medical bills are mounting, & treatment to keep her as healthy as possible, for as long as possible is quite expensive. One of the main things the Doctors & physical therapists have found that DOES help Tessa is a Flexitouch intermittent pneumatic compression device (lymphedema pump). Despite massive evidence that this pump allows great improvement with Tessa's condition, her insurance company denied it as "not medically necessary". The family can buy the pump outright from the company, but at a hefty price tag of nearly $7,000.
On top of the pump, her Doctors & therpists want her to have Manual Lymph Drainage therapy, including wrapping (bandaging) of her limbs, and customized compression gear. While her insurance will pay for some of this, the visits all have a $40.00 copayment. Therapists feel Tessa's level of impairment necessitates visits three times a week, which will cost that family $120.00 per week. Her Doctor also wants her to have warm pool physical therapy to try to help with her mobility issues. This also carries a copayment, and at two times a week, will be an additional $80.00 per week.
Tessa's medications currently cost around $170.00 per month, and that is without factoring in the cost of recommended suppliments her Doctors want her to use. Her dietary needs are very specific, which also comes with a hefty price tag to get the items her body needs.
The family recently moved to be closer to work, lower their mortgage, save on commuting tolls, gasoline, etc. However, the mounting medical expenses have negated the financial progress they were trying to make. The family is also short one full income from Tessa's full time job, since she is now disabled & no longer physically able to work. The financial burden of Tessa's medical bills & needs is so great that the family will be unable to meet her increasing needs.
Due to her size & mobility issues, her bathroom in her home needs to be modified to a handicapped accessible shower, for example.
Your generous donation will be used to help purchase the Flexitouch pump that Tessa desperately needs to get her lymphatic system functioning better & get that lymph fluid moving! It will also allow her to go to physical therapy, & lymphedema therapy (MLD, wrapping, compression), and to purchase her medications. It will also be used to pay for medical bills that are burdening the family. It would be nice if we were able to raise enough to also have her bathroom at home modified to accommodate her needs there as well.
We are extremely grateful for any and ALL assistance we receive. There is no such thing as TOO SMALL of a donation. Every penny helps in a situation like this! We thank you for your help & generosity from the bottom of our hearts.
With much gratitude,
The Lozano & Martinez Family
To read more about some of Tessa's medical conditions, please see the links below:
www.lipomadoc.org
https://www.genome.gov/17516629
http://www.tactilemedical.com/products/flexitouch/
http://www.livescience.com/26983-lymphatic-system.html
http://fatdisorders.org/
www.lupus.org