Kris Eilers - A Friend in Need
Our dear friend Kris Eilers, Executive Director of the St. Louis River Alliance and clean water advocate, had a heart attack on February 4, 2018. She had a stent placed immediately after the attack and was initially recovering well. As time passed she experienced pain and was in and out of the hospital multiple times with severe pain. Upon further investigation the doctors found a pseudoaneurysm on her aorta and as a result she will need long term medical care. With or without a very complicated (10 plus hour) surgery, the healing process for this condition is typically very slow. She will be going to the University of Minnesota Cardiac Center for further assessment and care. At this time she is managing her pain, but her activity is limited (60-80% bed rest) and it is unclear when she will be able to return to work. She is very optimistic she will be able to heal and live an active lifestyle with the love and support of family and friends. Please join us in helping our friend Kris - any help you can provide will go directly to medical and basic living expenses.
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Hello everyone! Over the last 6 months you all showed me so much support and kindness and generosity after my heart attack and subsiquent psuedo-anuerism. I am now feeling much better and thinking more clearly so I wanted to give you an update and a very long over-due thank you. I have been working very hard on my recovery, and I’m happy to tell you all that I am getting back on my feet. In some ways I feel better than I have in a long time. I am back to work full time, working on my cardiac rehab outdoors to enjoy this warm beautiful summer we have had.
I have had some big breakthroughs that have led to faster healing. During the 4 months I was home I struggled with not knowing where all the pain was coming from, and doctors could not tell me why it was so bad and how to get better. I was in a wheel chair and not able to walk very far, cook for myself, stand for more than a minute or lift anything larger than a glass of water. It seemed symptoms were getting worse through April.
In May after experiencing a frustrating appointment I decided to stop taking my statin (for cholesterol) as I had a hunch the worsening symptoms were being exacerbated by the pill. After a few weeks I started improving. I was eventually able to see a chiropractor for other pain I had been having in my left arm and shoulder, chest and back. She diagnosed several ribs out of place causing pain and inflammation as well as a rotator cuff injury that had been there since the night of my heart attack. It was very hard to determine what pain was from the pseudo-aneurism and what was not until some of the other stuff was taken care of.
In the last few months I have had physical therapy, cardiac rehab, massage, soma yoga, floated in a float tank, used tuning forks for therapy, had theta healing, and more. I would not have been able to even think about these treatments I needed so much if not for your generosity.
I also started work in the office part time in June going to full time in July. During this time, I felt better and was able to increase my physical exercise. But I still felt very brain foggy and had severe stomach issues from the pills and had very limited energy. So for the last two months I have been using natural methods to get off medications that were causing scary side effects.
I have been using raw almonds and bone broth and other supplements to heal my stomach and rebuild my muscles. I have been able to get off the stomach meds, all pain meds and another very addictive one that was necessary for a time. I am working hard on making sure I am able to eat the best food for me and get the daily exercise needed.
While I was in bed for almost 3 months I had plenty of time to meditate and think and feel. (that can be good and bad!) Seeing donations and emails coming in from people who I work with and have been friends with helped bolster me in days when I was losing hope and in the night when I struggled with fear – I could look at your notes and remind myself I was not alone. You made the difference in my will to fight hard and figure the mysteries out and not give up. I had so much to manage and think about during these last 6 months, and it helped so much to be able to write out checks for a good portion of the medical bills without a lot of anxiety.
I have had huge improvements overall because of your support in every area and I continue to get stronger. I have another follow-up with a vascular surgeon in October to make sure the pseudo aneurism has not enlarged. So far I have been able to avoid a very risky, long open heart surgery. But at this time I do believe it is ok because I have been able to enjoy biking, running, kayaking and last week I got on my paddle board for the first time this summer!
I want to thank my family and my extended family for their sacrifices and intimate help. So many people jumped to my aid and you all have played a part in my recovery and my outlook on humanity. Sometimes things seem so dark in this world and then I think of you….
I pray that you are blessed beyond measure. Please know that I pay it forward every day in any way I can.
Love and blessings,
Kris
I have had some big breakthroughs that have led to faster healing. During the 4 months I was home I struggled with not knowing where all the pain was coming from, and doctors could not tell me why it was so bad and how to get better. I was in a wheel chair and not able to walk very far, cook for myself, stand for more than a minute or lift anything larger than a glass of water. It seemed symptoms were getting worse through April.
In May after experiencing a frustrating appointment I decided to stop taking my statin (for cholesterol) as I had a hunch the worsening symptoms were being exacerbated by the pill. After a few weeks I started improving. I was eventually able to see a chiropractor for other pain I had been having in my left arm and shoulder, chest and back. She diagnosed several ribs out of place causing pain and inflammation as well as a rotator cuff injury that had been there since the night of my heart attack. It was very hard to determine what pain was from the pseudo-aneurism and what was not until some of the other stuff was taken care of.
In the last few months I have had physical therapy, cardiac rehab, massage, soma yoga, floated in a float tank, used tuning forks for therapy, had theta healing, and more. I would not have been able to even think about these treatments I needed so much if not for your generosity.
I also started work in the office part time in June going to full time in July. During this time, I felt better and was able to increase my physical exercise. But I still felt very brain foggy and had severe stomach issues from the pills and had very limited energy. So for the last two months I have been using natural methods to get off medications that were causing scary side effects.
I have been using raw almonds and bone broth and other supplements to heal my stomach and rebuild my muscles. I have been able to get off the stomach meds, all pain meds and another very addictive one that was necessary for a time. I am working hard on making sure I am able to eat the best food for me and get the daily exercise needed.
While I was in bed for almost 3 months I had plenty of time to meditate and think and feel. (that can be good and bad!) Seeing donations and emails coming in from people who I work with and have been friends with helped bolster me in days when I was losing hope and in the night when I struggled with fear – I could look at your notes and remind myself I was not alone. You made the difference in my will to fight hard and figure the mysteries out and not give up. I had so much to manage and think about during these last 6 months, and it helped so much to be able to write out checks for a good portion of the medical bills without a lot of anxiety.
I have had huge improvements overall because of your support in every area and I continue to get stronger. I have another follow-up with a vascular surgeon in October to make sure the pseudo aneurism has not enlarged. So far I have been able to avoid a very risky, long open heart surgery. But at this time I do believe it is ok because I have been able to enjoy biking, running, kayaking and last week I got on my paddle board for the first time this summer!
I want to thank my family and my extended family for their sacrifices and intimate help. So many people jumped to my aid and you all have played a part in my recovery and my outlook on humanity. Sometimes things seem so dark in this world and then I think of you….
I pray that you are blessed beyond measure. Please know that I pay it forward every day in any way I can.
Love and blessings,
Kris
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