Zanne Gray's Hope for a Cure
Donation protected
Hello friends, I’m writing today to ask for your help. Donna Gray’s daughter Zanne was diagnosed with MS in 2004 and was treated for over seven years. When first diagnosed, she pretended everything was OK and tried to hide her pain. Slowly as the disease progressed, she had to ask people not to touch her because it caused too much pain. She conducted meetings lying on the floor because she was too exhausted to sit. That system worked for four or five years until Zanne completely lost the use of her legs.
No longer able to walk ... she became isolated and lonely. When Zanne could no longer walk and the pain became too difficult to bear, she simply disappeared into her apartment. She decided no one wanted to hear about her pain and she had no interest in whining. Since becoming bedridden by this horrible disease, there’s not much Zanne can do … but write. Below is a poem she wrote. It’s not pretty, but it tells it like it is.
“Here lies Zanne. She lives in her bed. But all her best memories still live in her head. Her legs don’t work. She’s always in pain. She’s writing this half blind. Her fingers are trained. No need for makeup since no one drops by. When she’s asleep she can walk, sometimes fly. She’s written great poems. This happens to suck. That’s all you get when she’s lonely and stuck.”
It wasn’t always this way. In the early stages of her disease, Zanne tells about life in her own words…
“Before I was hit with this disease, I was your typical type A personality. I loved running businesses, helping people start their businesses online, teaching women the skills they needed to build websites and empower themselves to become more than they dreamed of. I threw theme parties, catered by some of the best chefs in Madison with themes ranging from, Come As One of the Crazy People in Your Head, to Come As Your Evil Twin.”
In 2011, doctors determined Zanne was misdiagnosed and actually had Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), also known as Devic's disease. NMO is an auto-immune disorder (which is often misdiagnosed as MS).
BUT there is hope for relief from the pain and a chance for a better life. This hope comes from new technology which offers the potential for a cure for Zanne. Daniel Ritacca, MD from the Chicago Stem Cell Treatment Center believes that, after extensive research, he can help Zanne! Unfortunately, this treatment is expensive, and not covered by insurance or Medicaid.
The treatment would require several ambulance transfers from Madison to Vernon Hills, Illinois along with medical costs in excess of $25,000.00! Our goal for the family is to raise $45,000 to cover the treatment and other medical expenses. Won’t you help find a cure to Zanne’s suffering?!
No longer able to walk ... she became isolated and lonely. When Zanne could no longer walk and the pain became too difficult to bear, she simply disappeared into her apartment. She decided no one wanted to hear about her pain and she had no interest in whining. Since becoming bedridden by this horrible disease, there’s not much Zanne can do … but write. Below is a poem she wrote. It’s not pretty, but it tells it like it is.
“Here lies Zanne. She lives in her bed. But all her best memories still live in her head. Her legs don’t work. She’s always in pain. She’s writing this half blind. Her fingers are trained. No need for makeup since no one drops by. When she’s asleep she can walk, sometimes fly. She’s written great poems. This happens to suck. That’s all you get when she’s lonely and stuck.”
It wasn’t always this way. In the early stages of her disease, Zanne tells about life in her own words…
“Before I was hit with this disease, I was your typical type A personality. I loved running businesses, helping people start their businesses online, teaching women the skills they needed to build websites and empower themselves to become more than they dreamed of. I threw theme parties, catered by some of the best chefs in Madison with themes ranging from, Come As One of the Crazy People in Your Head, to Come As Your Evil Twin.”
In 2011, doctors determined Zanne was misdiagnosed and actually had Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), also known as Devic's disease. NMO is an auto-immune disorder (which is often misdiagnosed as MS).
BUT there is hope for relief from the pain and a chance for a better life. This hope comes from new technology which offers the potential for a cure for Zanne. Daniel Ritacca, MD from the Chicago Stem Cell Treatment Center believes that, after extensive research, he can help Zanne! Unfortunately, this treatment is expensive, and not covered by insurance or Medicaid.
The treatment would require several ambulance transfers from Madison to Vernon Hills, Illinois along with medical costs in excess of $25,000.00! Our goal for the family is to raise $45,000 to cover the treatment and other medical expenses. Won’t you help find a cure to Zanne’s suffering?!
Organiser and beneficiary
Beth Prochaska
Organiser
City of Middleton, WI
Donna Gray
Beneficiary
