Nikki Vlasich Medical Fund

Updated on 4/23/2016.  Nikki was born premature and had multiple delays starting a very young age. She started life with speech therapy occupational therapy and physical therapy for many years. She had multiple casts and braces. She fought battles with certain organs not working and had to endure over 20 surgeries in her life thus far.  She was finally diagnosed with having Ehlers Danlos syndrome type six. This syndrome is a rare connective tissue disease that affects her joints, organs, and vascular components. In the last few years, her joints has continually stretched and weakened to the point that she dislocates at least 5 to 6 joints a day.  Knowing that her future will be enduring pain and being non-ambulatory she's had a goal to finish her schooling and gain bachelors of science degree in social work as early as she can.  Currently she has received her  associates of arts and Bible degree from the University of Northwestern St. Paul and has 22 credits left at Bemidji state University to earn her BS in Social Work.  Nikki uses a service dog named Buddy to help with all of her mobility needs. He lives in the dorm with her and attends all of her classes.  Nikki has currently had three surgeries this past year at the mayo clinic in Rochester Minnesota.  She is now healing from the most current one which has changed her life as she once knew it to be.

Mark, Nikki's dad, suffered a severe spinal cord injury in 2010. This was from a birth defect that was not diagnosed until his body just collapsed. He had a laminectomy where they removed the back half of his cervical spine from C3 down to C7.   The neurosurgeon said that he has not seen anyone with the severe Spinal cord injury that Mark had that hasn't been either dead or at least paralyzed from the neck down.  This left Mark being a quadriplegic however he is able to walk short distances using a cane, a little longer distances using a four wheeled walker, and having to use an electric wheelchair for any length of distance.  He is unable to work as he just doesn't have enough muscle and stamina due to the spinal cord injury. He also suffers with right heart failure and other symptoms associated with the spinal cord injury. Due to Marks instability and his walking he has fallen to the point that he has totally dislocated his ankle and had to have his ankle fused after two other surgeries was unsuccessful. After Nikki was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, Mark also received the diagnosis as it is a genetic disorder. Even though Nikki's Ehlers Danlos syndrome is at a more advanced stage, Mark also suffers with some of the symptoms associated with the syndrome. Mark recently had a carpel tunnel surgery as well as two tendon transfers to his thumb in hopes he can start to move it. He has had very limited use of this part of his handas well as severe neuropathy.  Hoping to find out soon if there was any success.

Penny the mom, who has been the sole caregiver for both Mark and Nikki, has  had an MRI of her lower lumbar spine. She is in need to have surgery on her SI joint but insurace refuses to pay for such a surgery.  She just underwent a carpel tunnel release and a poly carbonite transplant to  her thumb due to arthritis. 

Our family continues to now face several trips to the Mayo in Rochester which will accumulate many more expenses including hotel, gas, and food.  We have had generous donations however it has all been spent and costs continue to accumulate./