Help Ricky Get Seizure Relief
Donation protected
My name is Molly and I am raising money for my brother Ricky to continue Medical Marijuana Oil (CBD- the component of marijuana that doesn’t get a person high) treatment. Ricky has an extremely rare form of Epilepsy, and has been suffering daily seizures for nearly 20 years. He’s gone through numerous invasive medical procedures and a countless number of pharmacological treatments with no relief. He finally has found some relief with the use of Medical Marijuana Oil. Unfortunately, his treatment abruptly stopped when our family couldn’t pay the high cost of the medication out of pocket any longer. Just like that, he was back at square one, and it’s extremely heart breaking. Please help us in providing this truly inspirational young man with the relief he’s waited almost his entire life for.
Ricky started out as any other normal child. When he was four years old, he had his first seizure. Since then, much of his life has been spent in hospitals, doctors’ appointments and medicated to the brink of toxicity. His epilepsy is more severe than most people could ever imagine. It’s not uncommon for him to have more than 80 complex seizures within one day. That’s incomprehensible for most to imagine, not think of having to endure that for 20 years. Two decades of not being able to participate in daily activities that many take for granted, such as enjoying a meal with family or attending a birthday party. By the age of seven, he underwent the first of multiple brain surgeries. The goal of the surgeries was to remove the left half of his brain to stop the seizures. These surgeries left him paralyzed on his right side and wheelchair bound. The worst part was that his daily seizures didn’t stop. The surgeries were not the only treatment that Ricky underwent. He also tried the Vegus Nerve Stimulator (another surgery), as well as special diets and every anti-convulsant medication possible. Not a single one of these treatments significantly reduced his seizures.
Ricky is one of few people in our country with this specific type of Epilepsy. He has every type of seizure ranging from grand mal to small stare offs. His case is extremely unique. What’s left of his brain fires off seizures from multiple areas, making it hard to pinpoint and treat a specific area. Ricky’s constant seizures are the biggest obstacle he faces in his life. He is not able to go out and do what he enjoys without fear of a seizure. They leave him tired, anxious, aggravated, embarrassed, and unfocused. He also experiences very scattered thoughts. These affects leak over into his day to day life. It is hard for him to participate in social situations as well as learning opportunities. He has to be under 24 hour care and constant monitoring. We never know when a seizure is coming or when he may need to be hospitalized. Not only do his seizures affect his days, but he has them throughout the night as well, leaving him very lethargic and unmotivated.
After Ricky started Medical Marijuana Oil treatment to manage his seizures, his life changed for the better in every aspect. He was having significantly less seizures and their intensity decreased. He was finally able to truly immerse and enjoy doing what he likes without the constant fear of a seizure ruining it. He was less anxious to leave the house and to try new things. He was much more focused and able to retain information like never before. This new found relief reflected in his personality, he was more positive and relaxed. Ricky was also able to hold conversations without a seizure interrupting his thoughts. The tension in our home decreased as well. Family time was spent with more laughs and less worry about the next time a seizure was going to send him to the hospital.
For these reasons, we are asking for financial support that will provide much needed relief to my brother Ricky. Despite all of his challenges, he has the wonderful ability to touch the lives of everyone he meets. He is the most cheerful and caring person, and he has the ability to bring a smile to the faces of so many. With his humor and sensitive caring nature, he has the ability to make others smile, especially in their own time of need. In 20 years, Ricky has never let his challenges get him down. I’ve never once seen him feeling sorry for himself. His sense of humor is quick witted and he puts smiles on the faces of anyone who interacts with him.
After 20 years, Ricky finally had the relief he so badly wanted, and it was ripped away from him because of money. It’s heartbreaking and unfair to see such a vibrant person being held back because relief is unaffordable for him. Ricky and his family all appreciate the time that you’ve taken to get to know his plea. We are hoping that friends, family, and acquaintances are all willing to consider providing Ricky with some financial support. Unfortunately, medical insurance and pharmacies, have not responded to our emotional pleas. We ask for your assistance as soon as possible, so that we can continue to provide Ricky with the only relief that he has felt. He is only asking for a better quality of life that so many of us take for granted.
Thank you , help us get him the relief he has waited almost his entire life for, he deserves to have a better quality of life.
Ricky started out as any other normal child. When he was four years old, he had his first seizure. Since then, much of his life has been spent in hospitals, doctors’ appointments and medicated to the brink of toxicity. His epilepsy is more severe than most people could ever imagine. It’s not uncommon for him to have more than 80 complex seizures within one day. That’s incomprehensible for most to imagine, not think of having to endure that for 20 years. Two decades of not being able to participate in daily activities that many take for granted, such as enjoying a meal with family or attending a birthday party. By the age of seven, he underwent the first of multiple brain surgeries. The goal of the surgeries was to remove the left half of his brain to stop the seizures. These surgeries left him paralyzed on his right side and wheelchair bound. The worst part was that his daily seizures didn’t stop. The surgeries were not the only treatment that Ricky underwent. He also tried the Vegus Nerve Stimulator (another surgery), as well as special diets and every anti-convulsant medication possible. Not a single one of these treatments significantly reduced his seizures.
Ricky is one of few people in our country with this specific type of Epilepsy. He has every type of seizure ranging from grand mal to small stare offs. His case is extremely unique. What’s left of his brain fires off seizures from multiple areas, making it hard to pinpoint and treat a specific area. Ricky’s constant seizures are the biggest obstacle he faces in his life. He is not able to go out and do what he enjoys without fear of a seizure. They leave him tired, anxious, aggravated, embarrassed, and unfocused. He also experiences very scattered thoughts. These affects leak over into his day to day life. It is hard for him to participate in social situations as well as learning opportunities. He has to be under 24 hour care and constant monitoring. We never know when a seizure is coming or when he may need to be hospitalized. Not only do his seizures affect his days, but he has them throughout the night as well, leaving him very lethargic and unmotivated.
After Ricky started Medical Marijuana Oil treatment to manage his seizures, his life changed for the better in every aspect. He was having significantly less seizures and their intensity decreased. He was finally able to truly immerse and enjoy doing what he likes without the constant fear of a seizure ruining it. He was less anxious to leave the house and to try new things. He was much more focused and able to retain information like never before. This new found relief reflected in his personality, he was more positive and relaxed. Ricky was also able to hold conversations without a seizure interrupting his thoughts. The tension in our home decreased as well. Family time was spent with more laughs and less worry about the next time a seizure was going to send him to the hospital.
For these reasons, we are asking for financial support that will provide much needed relief to my brother Ricky. Despite all of his challenges, he has the wonderful ability to touch the lives of everyone he meets. He is the most cheerful and caring person, and he has the ability to bring a smile to the faces of so many. With his humor and sensitive caring nature, he has the ability to make others smile, especially in their own time of need. In 20 years, Ricky has never let his challenges get him down. I’ve never once seen him feeling sorry for himself. His sense of humor is quick witted and he puts smiles on the faces of anyone who interacts with him.
After 20 years, Ricky finally had the relief he so badly wanted, and it was ripped away from him because of money. It’s heartbreaking and unfair to see such a vibrant person being held back because relief is unaffordable for him. Ricky and his family all appreciate the time that you’ve taken to get to know his plea. We are hoping that friends, family, and acquaintances are all willing to consider providing Ricky with some financial support. Unfortunately, medical insurance and pharmacies, have not responded to our emotional pleas. We ask for your assistance as soon as possible, so that we can continue to provide Ricky with the only relief that he has felt. He is only asking for a better quality of life that so many of us take for granted.
Thank you , help us get him the relief he has waited almost his entire life for, he deserves to have a better quality of life.
Organizer and beneficiary
Molly Montee
Organizer
Albany, NY
Richard Haggerty
Beneficiary
