Help Danielle Stop the Pain
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My name is Danielle Petilli, I am 26 years old and every day I wake up in debilitating pain due to Arachnoiditis. Throughout my life I have faced health issue after health issue. It has been a long, difficult struggle and I am grateful to have had the support of family and friends throughout the years. However, I have now reached the point where I am asking you all for some specific help to fight this battle with Arachnoiditis.
To start let me highlight some significant events in my medical history:
· In 1992, I was born with a birth defect called myelomeningocele spina bifida and only had a 5% chance of a good outcome. Most people with that type of spina bifida require a shunt in the brain in addition to not being able to walk. Although I am grateful to have defied the odds, the complications from my birth defect left me with many major challenges throughout my life.
· In 2002, I started experiencing a tremendous amount of pain in my low back due to my spinal cord sticking to the scar tissue from my myelomeningocele repair. This required tethered cord surgery to release the spinal cord from attaching to the scar tissue, which was a very long and painful recovery process.
· To make matters worse, 3 months later, I was diagnosed with scoliosis, a S curvature of the spinal column, which required me to wear a back brace. Unfortunately, after a year and a half, my S curve got so severe I was having trouble breathing and had to undergo a spinal fusion surgery. This surgery required titanium rods and screws to be placed throughout my spine from the T1 to L3 vertebrae to straighten the curvature as much as possible. This was a whirlwind of changes. The challenge of learning how to adjust to a set of hardware that compromised my mobility was very difficult, especially as a child entering puberty.
· In 2006, my freshman year of high school, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a chronic invisible illness that causes widespread pain in the muscles & joints of the body. I went to all types of doctors and tried many different treatments over the years to reduce the pain. From chiropractors to biofeedback to comprehensive pain management, I tried everything I possibly could. I have found some relief, but it is still a condition that affects my life significantly on a daily basis.
· During 2018, I started experiencing debilitating pain in my back. I would walk around in the grocery store, for example, and my back would start hurting then my left leg would go numb and I would need to immediately find a place to sit to calm the pain down. However, one day that pain never went away. I went for an MRI and was officially diagnosed with Arachnoiditis.
In my case, Arachnoiditis is clumping of the nerve roots causing inflammation of the arachnoid lining, one of the layers that covers and protects the nerves and spinal cord, causing debilitating nerve pain.
As of today, this pain is so excruciating, and I have not found any relief. I need to wear a back/leg brace if I want to stand or walk for longer than a couple minutes. Although it does not help with the pain it prevents my leg from giving out. Arachnoiditis has prevented me from being able to live my life to its full potential. Just getting out of bed each day brings me an immense amount of pain.
The treatment options for Arachnoiditis are already so limited and my complex medical history narrows the options down further. I have tried several treatments to no avail, and it has now gotten to the point where my doctors are at a loss for how to help. However, one thing that they all agree on is that stem cell treatment is a possible solution for my pain.
After extensive research on stem cell treatment for Arachnoiditis, I found Dr. Todd Malan of Arizona at Center for Regenerative Cell Medicine
The stem cell treatment requires undergoing twilight sedation so they can remove some adipose (fatty) tissue where the autologous stem cells (obtained from the same individual) will be extracted. Next, they inject a stem cell paste, using ultrasound and x-ray guidance, into the paraspinal muscles by the area that is injured. After the paste is injected, they give intravenous (IV) stem cells that are pulled like a magnet to the area(s) needing repair. Stem cells target inflammation and are able to remove scar tissue. Overtime they go on to regrow new healthy tissue and nerves, improve blood supply, and decrease inflammatory response.
Unfortunately, this treatment is not covered under my health insurance and I cannot afford the cost. That is why I have come to GoFundMe to ask for your help. Any little bit is greatly appreciated and will go towards paying for this very promising treatment.
The cost for stem cell treatment is as follows:
· Stem Cell IV Therapy - $15,900
· Stem Cell Paste Injections - $3,000
· Twilight IV Sedation - $1,000
· Total- $19,900
Learn more about Dr. Todd Malan’s success stories here:
My Stem Cell Therapy Testimonials
My Stem Cell Therapy Video Testimonials
If this treatment is successful, my quality of life will greatly improve, and I will be able to function at a normal capacity. I want to be able to walk without pain, go up the stairs without my leg giving out, and participate in all the daily activities I am currently prevented from doing. I hope that with your help I will be able to do that. Ideally, if I raise enough funds I can be scheduled to receive this treatment by the end of June 2019.
Whether it’s $1 or sharing my story I will be extremely grateful. My heartfelt thanks for your time to learn about my story and your consideration to contribute.
Warm wishes,
Danielle
To start let me highlight some significant events in my medical history:
· In 1992, I was born with a birth defect called myelomeningocele spina bifida and only had a 5% chance of a good outcome. Most people with that type of spina bifida require a shunt in the brain in addition to not being able to walk. Although I am grateful to have defied the odds, the complications from my birth defect left me with many major challenges throughout my life.
· In 2002, I started experiencing a tremendous amount of pain in my low back due to my spinal cord sticking to the scar tissue from my myelomeningocele repair. This required tethered cord surgery to release the spinal cord from attaching to the scar tissue, which was a very long and painful recovery process.
· To make matters worse, 3 months later, I was diagnosed with scoliosis, a S curvature of the spinal column, which required me to wear a back brace. Unfortunately, after a year and a half, my S curve got so severe I was having trouble breathing and had to undergo a spinal fusion surgery. This surgery required titanium rods and screws to be placed throughout my spine from the T1 to L3 vertebrae to straighten the curvature as much as possible. This was a whirlwind of changes. The challenge of learning how to adjust to a set of hardware that compromised my mobility was very difficult, especially as a child entering puberty.
· In 2006, my freshman year of high school, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a chronic invisible illness that causes widespread pain in the muscles & joints of the body. I went to all types of doctors and tried many different treatments over the years to reduce the pain. From chiropractors to biofeedback to comprehensive pain management, I tried everything I possibly could. I have found some relief, but it is still a condition that affects my life significantly on a daily basis.
· During 2018, I started experiencing debilitating pain in my back. I would walk around in the grocery store, for example, and my back would start hurting then my left leg would go numb and I would need to immediately find a place to sit to calm the pain down. However, one day that pain never went away. I went for an MRI and was officially diagnosed with Arachnoiditis.
In my case, Arachnoiditis is clumping of the nerve roots causing inflammation of the arachnoid lining, one of the layers that covers and protects the nerves and spinal cord, causing debilitating nerve pain.
As of today, this pain is so excruciating, and I have not found any relief. I need to wear a back/leg brace if I want to stand or walk for longer than a couple minutes. Although it does not help with the pain it prevents my leg from giving out. Arachnoiditis has prevented me from being able to live my life to its full potential. Just getting out of bed each day brings me an immense amount of pain.
The treatment options for Arachnoiditis are already so limited and my complex medical history narrows the options down further. I have tried several treatments to no avail, and it has now gotten to the point where my doctors are at a loss for how to help. However, one thing that they all agree on is that stem cell treatment is a possible solution for my pain.
After extensive research on stem cell treatment for Arachnoiditis, I found Dr. Todd Malan of Arizona at Center for Regenerative Cell Medicine
The stem cell treatment requires undergoing twilight sedation so they can remove some adipose (fatty) tissue where the autologous stem cells (obtained from the same individual) will be extracted. Next, they inject a stem cell paste, using ultrasound and x-ray guidance, into the paraspinal muscles by the area that is injured. After the paste is injected, they give intravenous (IV) stem cells that are pulled like a magnet to the area(s) needing repair. Stem cells target inflammation and are able to remove scar tissue. Overtime they go on to regrow new healthy tissue and nerves, improve blood supply, and decrease inflammatory response.
Unfortunately, this treatment is not covered under my health insurance and I cannot afford the cost. That is why I have come to GoFundMe to ask for your help. Any little bit is greatly appreciated and will go towards paying for this very promising treatment.
The cost for stem cell treatment is as follows:
· Stem Cell IV Therapy - $15,900
· Stem Cell Paste Injections - $3,000
· Twilight IV Sedation - $1,000
· Total- $19,900
Learn more about Dr. Todd Malan’s success stories here:
My Stem Cell Therapy Testimonials
My Stem Cell Therapy Video Testimonials
If this treatment is successful, my quality of life will greatly improve, and I will be able to function at a normal capacity. I want to be able to walk without pain, go up the stairs without my leg giving out, and participate in all the daily activities I am currently prevented from doing. I hope that with your help I will be able to do that. Ideally, if I raise enough funds I can be scheduled to receive this treatment by the end of June 2019.
Whether it’s $1 or sharing my story I will be extremely grateful. My heartfelt thanks for your time to learn about my story and your consideration to contribute.
Warm wishes,
Danielle
Organizer
Danielle Petilli
Organizer
Apex, NC
