Quality care for Anna with locked-in syndrome
Donation protected
Hello everyone, thank you for taking the time to read my page. I am raising money for my friend’s mother who really needs our help in recovery after her brain surgery.
Justyna’s mother has been a secondary school teacher for the last 25 years. She has been a kind, happy and outgoing person. She has greatly contributed to school development and has helped many young people to prepare for adulthood.
In April 2018, she was diagnosed with a tumour- a meningioma that grew inward causing pressure on the cerebellum and brainstem. Doctors from one hospital informed Anna that the tumour is inoperable, however, Justyna and her mother did not give up and looked for help somewhere else. Finally, they found doctors who specialised in cases like that and they could operate. Unfortunately, due to funding shortage they needed to wait until August. Anna‘s condition was worsening: the pressure caused by a tumour was increasing resulting in swelling to the brainstem. Anna was referred to a different hospital and had an operation one month earlier on 17th July 2018. The doctors were able to remove almost the whole tumour but there were some adverse effects: the facial nerve was damaged and the brainstem was slightly relocated (after the pressure caused by a tumour was elevated) which resulted in restricted blood circulation in the brainstem. After the operation, Anna was put into a medically induced coma to allow brain recovery. When she came out of induced coma, Anna’s body was paralysed. Anna could only move one eye up and down. Justyna was informed that due to the lack of cough reflex, her mother was susceptible to pneumonia and infections. Not long after waking up Anna had pneumonia on two occasions and she barely recovered. At the moment, Anna is staying in a specialised hospital in Sawice. She is trapped inside her own body, has tracheostomy tube to help her breathe and feeding tube for hydration and nourishment purposes.
After some time doctors were able to establish contact with Anna and now we know she can hear, understands and remembers everything. She can communicate with only one eye movement: reacting to the letter of the alphabet to create words or giving ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers.
Anna requires long-term neurological rehabilitation to help her in a recovery process. Unfortunately, NFZ’s funding (National Health Service funding) is ending so Anna can stay in hospital in Sawice only until 28 February 2019. A month-long stay in a hospital that can provide neurological rehabilitation costs 18 000 zlotych (over 3 600 pounds a month). Justyna would like her mother to be able to stay there as long as possible or at least for a year so she could have the best chance to recover.
The rehabilitation is really expensive and Justyna and her husband cannot afford it so we asking you for help. Please if you would be able to donate money it would be greatly appreciated and even the smallest contribution would be invaluable support for us.
Thank you all so much!
Kinga
Justyna’s mother has been a secondary school teacher for the last 25 years. She has been a kind, happy and outgoing person. She has greatly contributed to school development and has helped many young people to prepare for adulthood.
In April 2018, she was diagnosed with a tumour- a meningioma that grew inward causing pressure on the cerebellum and brainstem. Doctors from one hospital informed Anna that the tumour is inoperable, however, Justyna and her mother did not give up and looked for help somewhere else. Finally, they found doctors who specialised in cases like that and they could operate. Unfortunately, due to funding shortage they needed to wait until August. Anna‘s condition was worsening: the pressure caused by a tumour was increasing resulting in swelling to the brainstem. Anna was referred to a different hospital and had an operation one month earlier on 17th July 2018. The doctors were able to remove almost the whole tumour but there were some adverse effects: the facial nerve was damaged and the brainstem was slightly relocated (after the pressure caused by a tumour was elevated) which resulted in restricted blood circulation in the brainstem. After the operation, Anna was put into a medically induced coma to allow brain recovery. When she came out of induced coma, Anna’s body was paralysed. Anna could only move one eye up and down. Justyna was informed that due to the lack of cough reflex, her mother was susceptible to pneumonia and infections. Not long after waking up Anna had pneumonia on two occasions and she barely recovered. At the moment, Anna is staying in a specialised hospital in Sawice. She is trapped inside her own body, has tracheostomy tube to help her breathe and feeding tube for hydration and nourishment purposes.
After some time doctors were able to establish contact with Anna and now we know she can hear, understands and remembers everything. She can communicate with only one eye movement: reacting to the letter of the alphabet to create words or giving ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers.
Anna requires long-term neurological rehabilitation to help her in a recovery process. Unfortunately, NFZ’s funding (National Health Service funding) is ending so Anna can stay in hospital in Sawice only until 28 February 2019. A month-long stay in a hospital that can provide neurological rehabilitation costs 18 000 zlotych (over 3 600 pounds a month). Justyna would like her mother to be able to stay there as long as possible or at least for a year so she could have the best chance to recover.
The rehabilitation is really expensive and Justyna and her husband cannot afford it so we asking you for help. Please if you would be able to donate money it would be greatly appreciated and even the smallest contribution would be invaluable support for us.
Thank you all so much!
Kinga
Fundraising team (2)
Kinga Gustak
Organizer
England
Justyna Wiatr
Team member
