Support for Sam against CRPS

Sam's Story
Our beautiful friend, 31  year old Samantha Lungu, was tragically hit by a speeding drunk driver 5 years ago - who got behind the wheel of a car nearly THREE times the legal blood alcohol limit.

The impact of the collision was so substantial that it severly injured her left leg at the time, rendering her unable to exit the vehicle. The accident caused extreme blunt force trauma to Sam's knee, also injuring her ankle, foot, neck & lower back.

As a result of the trauma to her leg, Sam is now in an ongoing battle with a very rare and misunderstood condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (or CRPS) in the left limb - a battle she will likely fight for the rest of her life, with an 80% chance that it could spread further throughout her body, it has already started to spread to her right leg. Most days, she is in too much pain to even get out of bed. Simple things that we take for granted daily, like wearing shoes or pants, cause horrendous and unimaginable pain for Sam. She has described the pain as likened to 'being burnt from the inside out.'
Sam relies on crutches to walk even the shortest of distances.



So what even is CRPS?
CRPS is described as the most severe type of pain on the McGill Pain Index, worse than childbirth. The nerves in the traumatised limb misfire and tell the brain that the body is in severe and constant pain resulting in extreme swelling, blistering of the skin, immobility, bruising and eventually could spread to other limbs and internal organs. It is sadly known amongst sufferers as 'The Suicide Disease' as the pain is often too unbearable to live with. There is no known cure.

If diagnosed early enough (typically within 3-4 months), the condition can potentially be reversed and patients may go into long-term remission. In Sam's case, it took nearly 6 months to diagnose in Australia due to lack of awareness of the condition amongst medical practicioners - meaning that for the forseeable future, pain management and trying to improve her daily quality of life is Sam's only option, after endless treatments have failed.

In addition to the pain of the CRPS itself, Sam also sadly battles severe Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), anxiety & depression following the accident.

What treatments has Sam tried to date?
Sam has been in treatment non-stop for the past four and a half years. She underwent a horrifically intense and painful week-long Ketamine treatment that was unfortunately unsuccessful, made her extremely ill & came at the huge personal cost. In addition to this, treatments so far include an intense 8 month rehabilitation program in Sydney, graded motor imagery treatment, spinal nerve blocks, receives weekly mental health support,  hydrotherapy, Bowen therapy, treatment with electrical current machines, osteotherapy, kinesiology, regular physiotherapy , lymphatic drainage massage, floatation tank treatments , that's just to name a few, there is a long list..... Sam also practises a strict anti-inflammatory diet and intakes a huge range of natural medicines & supplements daily .

Reversal treatment options are limited to none for Sam at this point in time, given the time that has already passed, the lack of her body's response to treatment & the increasing severity of her CRPS . Sam is now taking over 30 tablets a day to try and help manage the excruciating pain of CRPS, which consistently sits at an average of 8/10, day and night.

She will not give up hope though and we will constantly be praying that an effective treatment option eventually becomes available for Sam - to help relieve the pain, and improve her mobility & quality of life. We will keep on fighting!

Here's how you can help...
CRPS does not only have a physical and mental impact, but unfairly also creates a huge financial burden for sufferers. GoFundMe donations to support Sam and her fight against CRPS will go towards:

- Updated mobility equipment that will help provide Sam with increased independence
- Giving Sam the opportunity to take part in extensive rehabilitation & wellness programs being piloted overseas. This can happen once Sam is strong enough within her body to be able to handle the mental challenges of travelling, as well as the physical intensity of the lengthy programs
- Ongoing treatment and care (regular psychotherapy, trauma therapy and physiotherapy).

Time to give Sam a helping hand.
Before her accident, Sam had dedicated much of her own life to helping others. She raised over $6,000 to help buy a 'beach buggy' wheelchair that could travel across sand for a terminally ill 6 year old girl, who's lifelong wish was to swim in the ocean. She regularly volunteered her time at the local aged care home. Even during her CRPS battle, she has helped a young female domestic violence victim and her children transition into government housing - and through the rallying of donations, has fully furnished the house and provided toys for the kids & groceries for the whole family! These are just a few examples of Sam's character and the type of caring and compassionate person she is.

Sam is a shining beacon of hope, a completely selfless individual, and a beautiful young lady who now needs and deserves our help in her time of need.

It's time to give back and support Sam - thank you for your generosity and please spread the word!