Team Jackie

Have you ever heard of Ehlers Danlos? We hadn’t either until our beautiful friend Jackie began battling this horrible disease, among many other rare debilitating diseases such as Mast Cell Disease, MALS (Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome), and POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) to name a few.  She has been battling and trying to seek help for years.

Many of us have watched family members, or we ourselves, have been hospitalized, had surgeries, or even fought for our lives.  In almost all cases doctors and specialists are educated and well informed about how to care for us to find a cure, or to treat us while we are awaiting a possible cure.  I have lost count of the number of times she has been turned away by doctors unable or unwilling to care for her. Many being completely unaware of what these diseases are, especially all of them combined.   

Jackie has spent many hours researching and advocating for herself.  Unfortunately, most specialists are located out of state.  Being hospitalized for long lengths of time is hard on any family. It’s even more challenging when you have to travel out of state repeatedly for medical care & surgeries with the hopes of alleviating pain & improving your quality of life and future. It is especially difficult for people like Jackie who have a child in elementary school & a family waiting back home.

Traveling out of state to be seen and treated by doctors specializing in her rare diseases has forced them to use all of their retirement and savings on travel expenses (transportation, hotels, meals, etc.).  Jim’s need to be with Jackie on her extended medical trips out of state has restricted his ability to work and earn.  The past three years have really taken a toll most horrifically on her health, but also on their lives, well-being, and obviously financially.

 Jackie and her husband have been so willing to help in their community and church for years and would never ask for anything for themselves, but the time has come that we need to ask for some help.

Please consider donating any amount you can.  Throughout these years of illness, she has continued to work between the surgeries & procedures.  She has literally gone to work all day, only to go home and have an IV inserted and go to sleep to get ready for the next day.  She is in a tremendous amount of pain and is always up against life threatening complications.  Due to her illnesses & severe allergies to so many types of foods (and medications) she has lost a large amount of weight.  To say she is a fighter doesn’t explain how courageous she is.   Please help this amazing woman.  It is heart breaking watching them go through all of this.  And as always please pray for her and her family, and for the doctors caring for her that they might be just the ones she needs.