Katie's Brain Surgery Fund

Katie was diagnosed with a rare disease called Trigeminal Neuralgia on November 28, 2016, but has had this disease, unknowingly, for several years. She thought that the severe, electric shock like pains she had experienced in the past were due to migraines. Her episodes lasted a few days, and then she would go into remission for several months at a time before experiencing them again. But when the pain came back in November, it was more severe than she had ever experienced and hasn't gone away since. This is very typical of TN. Katie went to the ER that day thinking she was having a stroke, only to find out it was something else entirely. She describes the pain as feeling as if she's been stabbed in the head by a lightening rod and electrocuted throughout the left side of her face. 

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) also nicknamed "the suicide disease" is considered to be one of the most painful afflictions known to medical science. TN is a disorder of the fifth cranial (trigeminal) nerve. The typical or “classic” form of the disorder (called TN1) causes extreme, sporadic, sudden burning or shock-like facial pain in the areas of the face where the branches of the nerve are distributed – lips, eyes, nose, scalp, forehead, upper jaw, and lower jaw. It can be triggered by wind, cold air, talking, chewing, kissing, washing the face, brushing hair, brushing teeth, putting on makeup, stress, being too tired, or even just a wisp of hair brushing across the face. While Trigeminal neuralgia is not life threatening itself, the treatment of it often can be. 

Treatment for TN includes harsh anti-convulsant medications at high dosages which may become completely ineffective after time,  and in Katie's case, cause such serious side effects as to leave her completely non-functional. Surgery is now her only option at getting back to a normal life. 

She has recently consulted with one of the top neurosurgeons trained in a type of brain surgery called microvascular decompression (MVD) that will help her be pain free for 20 plus years. MVD involves opening the skull (craniotomy) and inserting a sponge between the nerve and offending artery or vein causing the pain signals. This surgery will take place May 18 in Orange, CA. She will need to stay in CA for 3 weeks and is needing help financially with medical expenses, travel expenses, as well as lodging since she will need to stay at a hotel close to the hospital once released from ICU. 

Katie and her husband, Nate, have 2 small boys, ages 6 and 8 and live in Spanish Fork, Utah. Katie has already endured the pain of helping her youngest son, Max, fight cancer. Thankfully, he is now cancer-free, but the strain of such medical hardships on a family is lasting.  Now this wonderful mother needs help so that she can continue caring for her family. She is a kind and service-minded friend to her community and is so deserving of this help. Any donation amount, big or small, will go a long way in supporting this family in what is about to be a long journey for Katie in having this surgery and recovering. Expected full recovery time for this type of brain surgery is  12-18 MONTHS. The family is grateful for any and all help.