FMD Alissa Sundeen Benefit Fund
Donation protected
My name is Tiffany Pauson (Nelson), this page has been created to help a good friend I grew up with, who has been fighting FMD (fibromuscular dysplasia)
for 20 years.
My friends name is Alissa Sundeen (Wacker) , wife of Tim Sundeen and mother of Kayla, Dani and TJ.
She is a strong woman and a fighter!
But needs all the support she can get right now to help and her and her family through this current FMD battle!
I'm going to share Alissa's story with you. Her mom Judy, shared it with me.
It's heartbreaking!
Alissa began experiencing high blood pressure, at age 24, from an unknown cause. This was fallowed by lots of unsuccessful blood pressure treatment and medication.
She was referred to a Interventional Radiologist at age 25 for her first of many angiograms (an xray test that uses special dye and camera to take picture of blood flow in an artery) and MRA's (a procedure that can accurately determine blood flow through the artery by direct visualization).
Those results revealed that Alissa has a condition called FMD (fibromuscular dysplasia).
This condition causes abnormal cells to grow within the artery thus weaking them, which provides a perfect setting for aneurysm formation.
FMD can effect many arteries of the body, but tend to be on the renal (kidney), carotid (neck), aortic (heart) and arteries in the brain.
Alissa had a placement of a renal artery stent during an angiogram, and finally had high blood pressure relief. However, it only lasted 6 months.
She has had countless procedures and over a dozen angiograms with many stent placements between the ages 25 and 34. Many times she would have this procedure done without telling her husband, children or other family members to protect them all from worry. She's such a strong woman!
Alissa became pregnant in late 2004, the high blood pressure symptoms returned, but Alissa refused any procedures that might harm the baby and waited until after the birth of their son TJ on June 3, 2005, to resume FMD treatment.
After seeing her nephrologist, it was determined that her right renal artery was so damaged from numerous angiograms etc, that other treatment options would have to be explored. She was also told that she had a right renal artery aneurysm.
Alissa was given a referral to the U of MN transplant surgeon. The only treatment option was to do a artery bypass and kidney transplant.
This was done in August 2008. Her recovery took about 18 months.
Alissa reached her 5-year milestone of a successful transplant in August 2013! Although FMD could come up in another artery, her physician felt that the worst was behind her.
It's now May 2015 and Alissa was just recently given the news that FMD had progressed to her brain and she had 2 different brain aneurysms. This has been the hardest news for Alissa and her FMD battle!
She is more worried about her children than herself, but thats the kind of person and mother she is.
The healthcare costs have been astronomical despite the fact her husband Tim has good family health insurance through work.
Alissa and Tim have worked hard their entire married life. But face financial ruin due to the health care bills already accrued, and will be getting, due to her current FMD battle involving the aneurysms in her brain.
Please help support Alissa by making a donation online with this website. Any amount is very much appreciated!
Donations can also be made in person at any TCF Bank to the account name (The Benefit for Alissa Sundeen).
Bank teller will need that exact name to look up account.
We are also planning a benefit for her on Saturday, August 1st, 2015 at 6:00pm.
JR's Outpost, HWY 10, Anoka
Thank you,
Tiffany Paulson (Nelson)
My prayers go out to her and her family during this very difficult time!
for 20 years.
My friends name is Alissa Sundeen (Wacker) , wife of Tim Sundeen and mother of Kayla, Dani and TJ.
She is a strong woman and a fighter!
But needs all the support she can get right now to help and her and her family through this current FMD battle!
I'm going to share Alissa's story with you. Her mom Judy, shared it with me.
It's heartbreaking!
Alissa began experiencing high blood pressure, at age 24, from an unknown cause. This was fallowed by lots of unsuccessful blood pressure treatment and medication.
She was referred to a Interventional Radiologist at age 25 for her first of many angiograms (an xray test that uses special dye and camera to take picture of blood flow in an artery) and MRA's (a procedure that can accurately determine blood flow through the artery by direct visualization).
Those results revealed that Alissa has a condition called FMD (fibromuscular dysplasia).
This condition causes abnormal cells to grow within the artery thus weaking them, which provides a perfect setting for aneurysm formation.
FMD can effect many arteries of the body, but tend to be on the renal (kidney), carotid (neck), aortic (heart) and arteries in the brain.
Alissa had a placement of a renal artery stent during an angiogram, and finally had high blood pressure relief. However, it only lasted 6 months.
She has had countless procedures and over a dozen angiograms with many stent placements between the ages 25 and 34. Many times she would have this procedure done without telling her husband, children or other family members to protect them all from worry. She's such a strong woman!
Alissa became pregnant in late 2004, the high blood pressure symptoms returned, but Alissa refused any procedures that might harm the baby and waited until after the birth of their son TJ on June 3, 2005, to resume FMD treatment.
After seeing her nephrologist, it was determined that her right renal artery was so damaged from numerous angiograms etc, that other treatment options would have to be explored. She was also told that she had a right renal artery aneurysm.
Alissa was given a referral to the U of MN transplant surgeon. The only treatment option was to do a artery bypass and kidney transplant.
This was done in August 2008. Her recovery took about 18 months.
Alissa reached her 5-year milestone of a successful transplant in August 2013! Although FMD could come up in another artery, her physician felt that the worst was behind her.
It's now May 2015 and Alissa was just recently given the news that FMD had progressed to her brain and she had 2 different brain aneurysms. This has been the hardest news for Alissa and her FMD battle!
She is more worried about her children than herself, but thats the kind of person and mother she is.
The healthcare costs have been astronomical despite the fact her husband Tim has good family health insurance through work.
Alissa and Tim have worked hard their entire married life. But face financial ruin due to the health care bills already accrued, and will be getting, due to her current FMD battle involving the aneurysms in her brain.
Please help support Alissa by making a donation online with this website. Any amount is very much appreciated!
Donations can also be made in person at any TCF Bank to the account name (The Benefit for Alissa Sundeen).
Bank teller will need that exact name to look up account.
We are also planning a benefit for her on Saturday, August 1st, 2015 at 6:00pm.
JR's Outpost, HWY 10, Anoka
Thank you,
Tiffany Paulson (Nelson)
My prayers go out to her and her family during this very difficult time!
Organizer and beneficiary
Tiffany Paulson
Organizer
Ramsey, MN
Alissa Wacker Sundeen
Beneficiary