Please Help My Sister
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Her name is Pixie. Well, it's actually Elizabeth, but for as long as I can remember I've called her Pixie. She's my little sister, born when I was 4 years old. We were as different as night and day, but our Mother dressed us alike for years. We shared confidences, fought as all sisters do, and had each others' backs when necessary.
We now live 7 houses apart, which is a wonderful thing. Most of the time this is a blessing. However, because of one mistake made by a medical professional, I now have a ringside seat to the battle my sister is waging for her life. I, the big sister who could always fix anything, feel helpless. My little sister, through no fault of her own, has been thrown into a never-ending cycle of daily medical care, painful procedures, illness and mounting medical debt.
Four years ago, Elizabeth had neck surgery. The surgery itself was a success. Upon discharge from the hospital, she was prescribed the wrong medicine by a physician assistant covering for her doctor's partner. Unfortunately, by the time her surgeon realized what had happened, the damage was done. Her adrenal glands were permanently damaged, and she now has no adrenal function. None.
As a result of having no adrenal function, she is now on daily steroid therapy for the rest of her life. Taking steroids daily has wrecked her teeth and bones. causing her teeth to literally break off at the gum line (even with no cavities). Taking steroids daily has caused her to develop chemically-induced diabetes, and she is now insulin dependent. Taking steroids daily has suppressed her immune system to the point that she is now prone to serious infections which her body cannot fight.
I describe these things not for you to pity her, but to give you a snapshot of her day-to-day existence. She takes massive amounts of drugs to keep her body in balance. These drugs do the job that her adrenal glands were supposed to do. These drugs aren't cheap. There are some drugs she should be taking but can't because she cannot afford them. The IV antibiotics they want to give her cost $5,000 a dose. Yes, that's $5,000 a DOSE. Needless to say, she was not able to follow through with that treatment. Do you know anyone who could?
The wrong medicine. She was given the wrong medicine, and as a result, Elizabeth went from a fully functioning member of society with no medical issues, no daily medications, no pain and no infections to a woman who is hanging on basically out of sheer stubbornness (a family trait we both inherited).
If any of this resonates with you, if you've had a friend or family member struggle with chronic illness or staggering medical debt, if you've known someone who had to choose between food or rent and buying medicine, then you can understand her plight. If you can give, that would be great. Even a kind word or an uplifting message would be wonderful.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
We now live 7 houses apart, which is a wonderful thing. Most of the time this is a blessing. However, because of one mistake made by a medical professional, I now have a ringside seat to the battle my sister is waging for her life. I, the big sister who could always fix anything, feel helpless. My little sister, through no fault of her own, has been thrown into a never-ending cycle of daily medical care, painful procedures, illness and mounting medical debt.
Four years ago, Elizabeth had neck surgery. The surgery itself was a success. Upon discharge from the hospital, she was prescribed the wrong medicine by a physician assistant covering for her doctor's partner. Unfortunately, by the time her surgeon realized what had happened, the damage was done. Her adrenal glands were permanently damaged, and she now has no adrenal function. None.
As a result of having no adrenal function, she is now on daily steroid therapy for the rest of her life. Taking steroids daily has wrecked her teeth and bones. causing her teeth to literally break off at the gum line (even with no cavities). Taking steroids daily has caused her to develop chemically-induced diabetes, and she is now insulin dependent. Taking steroids daily has suppressed her immune system to the point that she is now prone to serious infections which her body cannot fight.
I describe these things not for you to pity her, but to give you a snapshot of her day-to-day existence. She takes massive amounts of drugs to keep her body in balance. These drugs do the job that her adrenal glands were supposed to do. These drugs aren't cheap. There are some drugs she should be taking but can't because she cannot afford them. The IV antibiotics they want to give her cost $5,000 a dose. Yes, that's $5,000 a DOSE. Needless to say, she was not able to follow through with that treatment. Do you know anyone who could?
The wrong medicine. She was given the wrong medicine, and as a result, Elizabeth went from a fully functioning member of society with no medical issues, no daily medications, no pain and no infections to a woman who is hanging on basically out of sheer stubbornness (a family trait we both inherited).
If any of this resonates with you, if you've had a friend or family member struggle with chronic illness or staggering medical debt, if you've known someone who had to choose between food or rent and buying medicine, then you can understand her plight. If you can give, that would be great. Even a kind word or an uplifting message would be wonderful.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Organizer
Mary Yeager Farley
Organizer
Olathe, KS