Travel expenses, medical costs for Mayo Clinic in Minnesota

Hi, my name is Kristen Leveille, I'm 38 years old. I'm a stay at home mom, I homeschool, I'm a farmer and a wife! I'm married and have been with my husband for 18 years. We have 7 beautiful children-ages 2, 4, 8, 9, 13, 15 and 19. I'm considered a medical mystery and here's my story!

I'm no longer able to play or hold my children or take care of my family or our livestock (which supply our family with milk and food), tend our garden in the summer or even walk safely outside without becoming short breath, oxygen dropping and gasping for AIR! Cooking has even turned into a hard task as I'm coughing 24/7 with any big of smoke or grease in the air and standing or talking for even short periods of time have now made me become winded very easily. I can no longer do the things I love or be the parent and wife I want and need to be.

3 years ago, while I was just a month pregnant with our youngest, I started to get a cough that never went away. The farther along in the pregnancy I got, I noticed I couldn't breath as good as I should be. I went to my doctor and was prescribed a rescue inhaler for asthma. Still struggling, I went back again and got another add-on steroid inhaler. When neither of those were helping, I was referred to the pulmonary group.

Fast forward a bit...I was diagnosed with a guess of severe eosinophilic asmtha and given 20mg of Prednisone (another steroid) since I was pregnant there wasn't much they could give me at the time.

Over the last 2+ years, I've undergone hundreds of blood tests, imagery included X-rays and CT scans of my lungs, oddly enough all coming back clear. I've been on 2 different biologic shots (Nucala and Fasenra)-which I've failed, 6+ steroid inhalers, and as far as doing a round of chemo treatment (rituximab) for a rare lung disease and a handful of breathing medications.

I was recently referred to Mass General and saw a doctor who received an award for Boston Magazines Best Doctor in the Country and in the World.

Unfortunately he had no clue and couldn't figure it out as his suggestions didn't work.

I'm considered steroid dependant and every time I try to come off them, I end up with very low oxygen and admitted in the hospital with acute respiratory failure.

My most recent hospital stay was in August-September for 11 days, where I developed Cushing's disease and gained 50+ pounds in only 3 days. I've gained 100 pounds total now from the illness and meds and have also developed medication induced sleep apnea and thinning of the skin.. just to name a few.

Sadly, my pulmonologist has now dropped me as a patient because I ultimately listened to the suggestions of the Boston doctor (which he referred me to) and now I'm being reprimanded for it. I have now been referred to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and we will be traveling there June 19-26th. We are looking for donations to help fund this medical trip, bills and we are prayerful we will get answers!

I'm considered a medical mystery at this point and we need help getting me to the best doctors for treatment.

Thank you for your love and support to our family. God bless you!

The Leveille's❤️