Realief for Feet
Donation protected
Dear Friends and Family, As most of you know, I have bad feet! I have been struggling with debilitating pain for the past 8 years. It is almost difficult for me to remember what I was like before the pain took over my life; that girl who easily ran 6 miles a day, loved to cook, loved life and imagined an exciting and wonderful future. That makes me sad to write....But my life has been completely overtaken by a mysterious chronic pain in both my feet. In so many ways I feel like I was robbed of the future that I imagined for myself. Then, I also must take responsibility for how a sabotaged my own future.
After several years of going to doctor after doctor with no relief or diagnosis, I eventually began to self-medicate and quickly became addicted to pain pills. Complete self destruction followed. I lost my soul, my ambition, my conscience and the trust of my family and friends. I hurt the people who loved me the most. It was terrible.
It has been a difficult and complex road to recovery. I had to pretty much lose everything but in turn gained something I am very proud of. Sobriety. I can proudly say I am free from the toxic, deadly grip of addiction. Thank God! The problem is, my physical pain remains. The good news is, I have been given a diagnosis. I have something called CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrom) It is a rare hereditary neurological disease that effects your hands and feet. I also have severe neuropathy which is a painful burning, stabbing nerve disorder that effects your hands and feet as well. There is currently no cure for either of these.
There is however a way to ease all or most of the pain associated with these conditions. It is through a high power lazer. The same kind that surgeons use to cut during surgery but this lazer is more dispursed. It is relatively new and there are only six doctors currently trained in the United States to use it. Lukily, one of them is in Cary, NC! Here is a link to their website: www.realiefcenters.com. I had a consultation with Dr. Phillips a few months ago. He determined through a series of tests that I would need 12 lazer treatments. Of course the treatments are expensive and not covered by insurance. I was desperate though! I was so grateful to be able to go 6 of the sessions. It truly has been remarkable how much better I feel. I can sleep through the night with little pain and already have less severe stabbing incidents. It literally means everything to me to have some relief from the pain.
Unfortunately, I have run out of funds to complete the remainder of the treatment. I know that my symptoms will only continue to dissipate if am able to continue. The goal I stated is the exact cost of six lazer treatments. It was hard for me to reach out in this way. It is something I have thought and prayed about for a while. I hesitated mainly because so many of you have been incredible kind and have already giving me so much. I am so grateful to you, my sweet friends and family.
In addition to these issues or maybe I should say because of these issues, I have developed another serious problem. Sorry, to be such a complainer! The shape of my foot due to the CMT and the severe neuropathy I have has led me to develope a terrible sore on the bottom of my right foot. I first noticed it in December of last year. At the time, I was walking to work and then on my feet all day at work. It became a very serious problem quickly. To condense a very long, yucky story, the sore is still there. Even though I had surgery in March to close it and have seen countless specialist, the wound is still not healed. It got to the point that my tendon was actually showing. All the soft tissue of the foot had deteriorated. It's a full time job trying to take care of all this mess. Thank goodness, I have my amazing mom to be my full time nurse. Any of you that know her, know just how lucky I am!
I felt like to had to go into some detail about my situation so you would know exactly what for and why I am asking for help. Any donation you are led to give will be so much appreciated. If that is not an option for you right now, of course your prayers and love are the best support I can get.
After several years of going to doctor after doctor with no relief or diagnosis, I eventually began to self-medicate and quickly became addicted to pain pills. Complete self destruction followed. I lost my soul, my ambition, my conscience and the trust of my family and friends. I hurt the people who loved me the most. It was terrible.
It has been a difficult and complex road to recovery. I had to pretty much lose everything but in turn gained something I am very proud of. Sobriety. I can proudly say I am free from the toxic, deadly grip of addiction. Thank God! The problem is, my physical pain remains. The good news is, I have been given a diagnosis. I have something called CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrom) It is a rare hereditary neurological disease that effects your hands and feet. I also have severe neuropathy which is a painful burning, stabbing nerve disorder that effects your hands and feet as well. There is currently no cure for either of these.
There is however a way to ease all or most of the pain associated with these conditions. It is through a high power lazer. The same kind that surgeons use to cut during surgery but this lazer is more dispursed. It is relatively new and there are only six doctors currently trained in the United States to use it. Lukily, one of them is in Cary, NC! Here is a link to their website: www.realiefcenters.com. I had a consultation with Dr. Phillips a few months ago. He determined through a series of tests that I would need 12 lazer treatments. Of course the treatments are expensive and not covered by insurance. I was desperate though! I was so grateful to be able to go 6 of the sessions. It truly has been remarkable how much better I feel. I can sleep through the night with little pain and already have less severe stabbing incidents. It literally means everything to me to have some relief from the pain.
Unfortunately, I have run out of funds to complete the remainder of the treatment. I know that my symptoms will only continue to dissipate if am able to continue. The goal I stated is the exact cost of six lazer treatments. It was hard for me to reach out in this way. It is something I have thought and prayed about for a while. I hesitated mainly because so many of you have been incredible kind and have already giving me so much. I am so grateful to you, my sweet friends and family.
In addition to these issues or maybe I should say because of these issues, I have developed another serious problem. Sorry, to be such a complainer! The shape of my foot due to the CMT and the severe neuropathy I have has led me to develope a terrible sore on the bottom of my right foot. I first noticed it in December of last year. At the time, I was walking to work and then on my feet all day at work. It became a very serious problem quickly. To condense a very long, yucky story, the sore is still there. Even though I had surgery in March to close it and have seen countless specialist, the wound is still not healed. It got to the point that my tendon was actually showing. All the soft tissue of the foot had deteriorated. It's a full time job trying to take care of all this mess. Thank goodness, I have my amazing mom to be my full time nurse. Any of you that know her, know just how lucky I am!
I felt like to had to go into some detail about my situation so you would know exactly what for and why I am asking for help. Any donation you are led to give will be so much appreciated. If that is not an option for you right now, of course your prayers and love are the best support I can get.
Organizer
Marla Stecki
Organizer
Raleigh, NC