Sarah's Medical Expenses
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I want to start by thanking you for even looking at my GoFundMe page. Now let me tell you why this page exists.
My name is Sarah, in January of 2014 I started feeling pain in my feet. I went and saw the PA at my doctor's office, he said it looked like I had high arches and that I should get shoe inserts as well as see a podiatrist. I did as told and was seen by the podiatrist in February 2014. I explained the situation and he said it sounded like nerve damage and I needed to see a Neurologist. By this time the pain had increased ten fold and I had to start taking pain pills so I could function. I was finally able to see the neurololgist in March 2014. We spoke at length about my pain, he said it sounded like neuropathy. I was scared to say the least. The doctor needed to do a MRI as well as a nerve conduction study. I was able to get the MRI appointment pretty quickly, but that was the radiologist department at the hospital. The nerve conduction study was finally done on April 22, 2014. The pain had grown out of control and had spread to my legs. I also started experiencing blurry vision, even with my glasses on (it was hard to read). It was difficult to eat and when I did, it was never enough, plus, there was always the problem of vomiting. Sadly, the study was inconclusive. My doctor started me on some new medication and we agreed to follow-up.
May 1, 2014 was my 30th birthday. I was so weak, I fell asleep at my birthday dinner. I can barely remember that day. A few days later, I stood up from taking a bath, and I knew something was wrong. I couldn't move, it was like my body turned to stone. I called out for my husband and he came to hold me up. The next thing I knew I was on our bed. I had fainted. Something was definitely wrong and I needed to be in the hospital.
I was admitted to Cedars Sinai on May 5, 2014. Every test possible was conducted and it was concluded: I was extremely malnourished which had caused neuropathy. I also had an elevated heart rate (which had caused a heart murmur) and very low blood pressure. I was started on multiple medications (10 pills twice a day, plus some at lunch) and a high protein diet. Then the doctors decided that I needed a PICC line so I could receive TPN and lipids. After 19 days, I was finally discharged. I had missed so much, including Mother's Day. Talking to my little girl via Skype is not enough.
Once home, I was assigned a nurse (Andy) to handled my PICC line and TPN. Thankfully, Andy was a huge nerd and Agents of SHIELD fan like me. The first time he came to my house I told him I was going to SDCC 2014. He said it wasn't going to happen. I told him that I WOULD be there! I did everything I was told to, including eating 1500 calories a day (which sounds easy, but is very difficult for me). My doctor saw my great progress and gave Andy the okay to remove the PICC line! My vision had improved back to my "normal" state, I had more energy, I had figured out my medicine schedule, my pain was somewhat under control, and I was going to SDCC 2014 courtesy of my amazing friend Kristin.
SDCC 2014 feels like a dream. Kristin had brought an electric scooter for me to use. It was prefect. We saw the Agents of SHIELD panel and we were even lucky enough to get a picture with the cast (it's an amazing story), plus, we were able to meet Jed Whedon and one of my heroes, Maurissa Tancharoen (we compared PICC line scars). Her strength and just flat out awesomeness helps me get through it, because maybe I can be like her one day!
Back to the topic at hand: my neuropathy has been confirmed as well as a heart murmur. I have medical bills totaling more than I have in my bank account (my hospital stay was $118k). I can't work a normal job because I can't drive (I have a fainting problem, plus I can't feel the pedals). We haven't been able to pay our mortgage in three months. The thing that upsets me the most though is not being able to go anywhere with my little girl. Because of the dizzy spells and neuropathy I can't even walk around the grocery store.
I'm asking for help to pay for an electric scooter and some medical bills. I had a hard time deciding to use GoFundMe, but I have helped people I don't know in the past and I thought someone might want to help me.
If there are any funds leftover I will be donating them to a charity (I would love suggestions).
My name is Sarah, in January of 2014 I started feeling pain in my feet. I went and saw the PA at my doctor's office, he said it looked like I had high arches and that I should get shoe inserts as well as see a podiatrist. I did as told and was seen by the podiatrist in February 2014. I explained the situation and he said it sounded like nerve damage and I needed to see a Neurologist. By this time the pain had increased ten fold and I had to start taking pain pills so I could function. I was finally able to see the neurololgist in March 2014. We spoke at length about my pain, he said it sounded like neuropathy. I was scared to say the least. The doctor needed to do a MRI as well as a nerve conduction study. I was able to get the MRI appointment pretty quickly, but that was the radiologist department at the hospital. The nerve conduction study was finally done on April 22, 2014. The pain had grown out of control and had spread to my legs. I also started experiencing blurry vision, even with my glasses on (it was hard to read). It was difficult to eat and when I did, it was never enough, plus, there was always the problem of vomiting. Sadly, the study was inconclusive. My doctor started me on some new medication and we agreed to follow-up.
May 1, 2014 was my 30th birthday. I was so weak, I fell asleep at my birthday dinner. I can barely remember that day. A few days later, I stood up from taking a bath, and I knew something was wrong. I couldn't move, it was like my body turned to stone. I called out for my husband and he came to hold me up. The next thing I knew I was on our bed. I had fainted. Something was definitely wrong and I needed to be in the hospital.
I was admitted to Cedars Sinai on May 5, 2014. Every test possible was conducted and it was concluded: I was extremely malnourished which had caused neuropathy. I also had an elevated heart rate (which had caused a heart murmur) and very low blood pressure. I was started on multiple medications (10 pills twice a day, plus some at lunch) and a high protein diet. Then the doctors decided that I needed a PICC line so I could receive TPN and lipids. After 19 days, I was finally discharged. I had missed so much, including Mother's Day. Talking to my little girl via Skype is not enough.
Once home, I was assigned a nurse (Andy) to handled my PICC line and TPN. Thankfully, Andy was a huge nerd and Agents of SHIELD fan like me. The first time he came to my house I told him I was going to SDCC 2014. He said it wasn't going to happen. I told him that I WOULD be there! I did everything I was told to, including eating 1500 calories a day (which sounds easy, but is very difficult for me). My doctor saw my great progress and gave Andy the okay to remove the PICC line! My vision had improved back to my "normal" state, I had more energy, I had figured out my medicine schedule, my pain was somewhat under control, and I was going to SDCC 2014 courtesy of my amazing friend Kristin.
SDCC 2014 feels like a dream. Kristin had brought an electric scooter for me to use. It was prefect. We saw the Agents of SHIELD panel and we were even lucky enough to get a picture with the cast (it's an amazing story), plus, we were able to meet Jed Whedon and one of my heroes, Maurissa Tancharoen (we compared PICC line scars). Her strength and just flat out awesomeness helps me get through it, because maybe I can be like her one day!
Back to the topic at hand: my neuropathy has been confirmed as well as a heart murmur. I have medical bills totaling more than I have in my bank account (my hospital stay was $118k). I can't work a normal job because I can't drive (I have a fainting problem, plus I can't feel the pedals). We haven't been able to pay our mortgage in three months. The thing that upsets me the most though is not being able to go anywhere with my little girl. Because of the dizzy spells and neuropathy I can't even walk around the grocery store.
I'm asking for help to pay for an electric scooter and some medical bills. I had a hard time deciding to use GoFundMe, but I have helped people I don't know in the past and I thought someone might want to help me.
If there are any funds leftover I will be donating them to a charity (I would love suggestions).
Organizer
Sarah Rowland
Organizer
