Main fundraiser photo

Sara's Susac Syndrome-please help

Donation protected

In December 2015 after being sick with migraine-like headaches, extremity numbness, gastrointestinal infections and vertigo for 5+ weeks, seeing numerous Dr.'s and finding no answers or diagnosis we were feeling hopeless. We knew Sara was sick but none of the Dr.'s knew what was causing Sara’s symptoms. On Dec. 3rd Sara woke up with part of her vision gone, immediately called and saw the family eye Dr. who sent her to a retinal specialist. She saw a different retinal specialist the next day. He said she needed an MRI and blood work immediately. He felt it was either an infection or an auto immune disease. The MRI showed brain lesions (or spots) on her brain. She was immediately admitted to Swedish Hospital in Englewood, Colorado on Dec 5th. In the hospital they did a spinal tap to test the spinal fluid and her blood was sent to New York, Atlanta, and Minnesota. After several days of tests, she was released Dec.10th. The Opthamologist gave her a definite diagnosis of Susac Syndrome, which is a rare Auto Immune Disease that is still being studied and  causes your immune system to attack your body. This disease causes (BRAOs) which are Branch Retinal Arterial Occlusions (blood clots) causing vision  loss. She was immediately started on 80mg of prednisone (a steroid). This disease only affects young women, causing vision, hearing and memory loss. Because the symptoms are so debilitating it usually renders these young women unable to return to their professional careers. Sara attended college for 6 years and graduated from Colorado Christian University in the spring of 2013 with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Since graduating she worked at St. Joseph Hospital as an Orthopedic nurse for 2 years. Since the summer of 2015 she’s been working on the Cancer floor as an Oncology nurse. Her dream has always been to help other people. She has now had to leave her R.N. position at St. Joseph Hospital, and probably will be unable to return to her life long passion. Going forward she will need to be hospitalized monthly to receive (very costly) IVIG infusions. These may or may not be covered by insurance (since this disease has only been identified since 1979.) Side effects from the steroids and infusion meds are similar to having chemotherapy-awful dreams, insomnia, taste changes, and debilitating headaches and stomach aches. She also started immuno- suppressants to suppress her immune system, which could place her in the hospital due to the most minor cold or infection. There is no cure for this disease, and once it is (optimistically) controlled, in 12-24 months, she will continue to have "flare-ups" the rest of her life. It's very hard for the whole family not knowing what the future holds for her. Our faith in an awesome powerful God is what we cling to, knowing that miracles can still happen. And that is what it will take for Sara to be free of this dreadful disease. Sara will have many medical bills in the tens of thousands and we are asking for your support through the GoFundMe foundation.
One of the hardest parts about this is admitting and sharing this story with everyone. But  any donation amount is greatly appreciated as we can not do this on our own as a family.
Thank you very much.
-The Perea Family-
Donate

Donations 

  • Danielle Coleman
    • $100 
    • 6 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Kristin Perea
Organizer
Denver, CO

Begin your fundraising journey

Create a fundraiser for any person, cause, or nonprofit - it's free and every cause matters.

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.