Help the Rhea Family Fight

I'd like to introduce you to my cousin, Traci Rhea and her family.  They are a hard-working, Christian family from Bullard, TX.  As her younger cousin, I always admired Traci's family.  They put a lot of energy into their kids, focusing hard on learning and education.  Their story has taken a tragic turn over the last couple of years.  The Rhea family could really use your help as they fight against several large medical obstacles recently laid before them.  Buckle up, it's a long tale of unfortunate events.
Dan and Traci

Dan was in the Navy in basics when he had his first heart attack. He was medically discharged and since he was unable to complete training, he did not qualify for any benefits or access to the VA. Dan moved on and had a short but successful career in sales management. Dan and Traci (as a youth pastor) felt led to Florida where soon after, the economy dipped and Dan started having health problems.

It was then that Dan had his second heart attack and was diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, and Syncope. Soon after came a diagnosis of Diabetes and Heart blockages. Dan was on the pre-transplant list in Tampa. They moved from Orlando to be closer to his team of doctors. During this time, Traci commuted 2 hours to and from the hospital and doctors while holding down a full time job and raising their three children. Dan was approved for an experimental study that was going to treat his condition with stem cells. Unfortunately, funding was pulled at the last minute. Dan's heart worsened and he wore an external life vest which would shock him in case of sudden death in hopes that he could be revived and taken for a transplant. A few months later, a defibrillator was inserted in his chest and he contracted Myrsa and VRE (Vancomyacin Resistant Enterococci ). Both infections are difficult to cure because the bacteria do not respond to many antibiotics. He spent months on multiple IV antibiotics before finally having to have surgery to remove the life saving needed device. His heart weakened and he began go into AFIB. A new stronger device was implanted and shortly after the procedure, the transplant surgeon attempted a quadruple Bi-pass. Dan was too weak for the surgery, two of the Bi-passes failed, and a stroke left Dan with brain damage and diminished use of ½ of his body.
Dan after bi-pass surgery

Dan tries to make it on his own. In his forties, he knows that he should be able to do things he can't and this results in a lot of falls and injuries. His wife, is currently working to get him a mobile chair to help him get around without the embarrassment of a walker.
Dan still in good spirits

A few years after relocating to Florida, Alex, Traci's youngest son, was mis-diagnosed with ADHD at age 5. Knowing that her son seemed to have more issues than normal children with ADHD, let Traci to seek out a second and third opinion. 
Alex

By age 8 Alex was finally properly diagnosed with Autism. He struggles in school and has difficulty making friends. He is currently attending Bullard ISD and their wonderful principal, counselor, and teaching staff has been great for him.


Ashley, age 15, was mis-diagnosed in 2012 with Celiac disease.
Ashley

After a change in diet failed to lessen her symptoms, she had her appendix removed and underwent exploratory surgery. Three Gastrointerologists from different parts of the country have attempted to treat Ashley. She eventually received the current diagnosis, Gastroparesis. It is a disorder that slows or in Ashley's case, stops the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine. It is not curable, it is a chronic, life-long condition that causes her extreme pain.
The root cause of this condition was experienced by both Ashley and Mathew (her older brother). They originally contracted a rare intestinal virus from the international airport while traveling from Florida to Texas to visit their grandparents. The virus is normally only in third world countries but since both Dallas and Orlando receive world wide travelers, the children were unfortunate recipients. The virus ravaged their stomach and intestines for months.


Mathew

Mathew's symptoms eventually settled to GERD and IBS. However, Ashley's has turned into something much worse. Her stomach lining was eaten away by the virus and she can no longer digest food. Now, when she smells cooked food, tests performed by doctors say that her pain registers as a 10 on the labor scale. Eating is a painful process, regardless of what she eats. Fiber and meats cannot be broken down and her diet has settled on mostly Gatorade, mashed potatoes, and ice cream. Even these foods are not properly processed and lead to constant bowel obstruction. She takes an enormous amount of laxatives daily just to be able to intake calories and maintain nutrition. She is working with Children's hospital in Dallas, desperately seeking ways to expand her diet and relieve the pain. Ashley will soon undergo an experimental operation placing a pacemaker in her stomach to ease the nausea. However this wont ease the pain or cause food to digest. At this point her pain has a life-long diagnosis, but they are not giving up researching and seeking new hope.

Holding down a full time job and managing multiple family members illnesses was too difficult to do alone. Traci has recently moved her family back to her home town of Bullard where they are residing with her elderly parents. Living with relatives helps cut costs and allows them to take advantage of the amazing hospitals and clinics in Tyler. Anything that is not medical has been been put on the back burner.

Matthew, 19 is currently attending TJC and working part time to help pay for his education. Last week, his truck quit working and is in need of multiple repairs that the family cannot afford. Their other car that is used for transporting family members to and from doctors, hospitals, and work is also in need of repair.

Please help the Rhea family in their fight to move forward.  If we could reach $5,000 by New Years, the Rheas could pay off some of the medical expenses and have a great start on 2016.

I realize there are a lot of families in need this season.  Thank you for thinking of my cousins.  Please share this story with your social media friends.