Alanna Quinn Barker's Health Fund
Donation protected
Please allow me to introduce myself...My name is Debby Schwartz and I am creating this fund for Alanna Barker, as we recently reconnected after a long long time. It was after reading one of Alanna’s FB posts, I realized she was crying out for help. After speaking to her, I found out that she has not shared with her friends just how seriously ill she is. She spends most of her time at home, at doctors’ appointments and in the hospital. Because of this, she has isolated herself from everyone. Now that I am in the know and have been spending time with her and her family, I want to share Alanna’s story and help everyone become aware of the severity of her illness.
Today marks the 5 year anniversary that our beloved friend Alanna Barker received the Flu Mist vaccination. What she thought would protect her from the flu turned in to an illness that could not be diagnosed. Test after test, doctor after doctor, Alanna’s symptoms consisted of slurred words, paralysis on the left side of her face, numbness in her hands and feet and a significant amount of weight loss. Five long months later, on March 14, 2011, Alanna was finally diagnosed with Guillian Barre. Unfortunately, the damage to her body was irreversible. Because it took 5 months for the Guillain Barre diagnose, Alanna now has CIDP, which is the also known as Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy; an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. GBS is characterized by the rapid onset of numbness, weakness, and often paralysis of the legs, arms, breathing muscles, and face. Paralysis is ascending, meaning that it travels up the limbs from fingers and toes towards the torso.
After a trip to the Mayo Clinic in May 2012, Alanna endured18 months of chemo therapy, which resulted in the beginning of renal failure. In January 2015, Alanna was diagnosed with Addison’s Disease. Addison’s Disease is when the adrenal glands on your kidneys can no longer produce cortisol (an essential hormone to live). This is another disease that has no cure and is life threatening, as an adrenal crisis can take place and result in death. In April of this year, Alanna had 2 surgeries to implant a medical device in her sacrum nerves, which allows her to urinate on her own, instead of having to use a catheter.
Alanna is currently receiving IVIG treatments (intravenous immunoglobulin), which is a blood product administered by IV. It contains antibodies from over 1000 blood donors. This treatment takes 9 hours and is done every 3 weeks. Alanna’s body is rejecting the IVIG and as a result she now has chronic meningitis. Alanna spends much of her time in and out of the hospital due to seizures and other complications. As of today, Alanna’s paralysis is on the left side of her body, but is now starting to move up the right side of her body. She also has no feeling from her belly button down. There are no further treatments available to stop this disease, although the doctors hope that the IVIG will slow the progression of the paralysis, in order to extend her life as long as possible. Sadly, the paralysis will eventually take her life by suffocation or heart failure.
We are not sure how much longer Alanna has to live as this disease is progressing extremely fast. Keeping Alanna comfortable is the main goal as she experiences excruciating nerve and muscle pain. This Thursday, she will endure her 4th round of IVIG. Alanna tries to remain optimistic, but sometimes the pain and sadness of it all gets the best of her. Alanna is surrounded by her amazing loving husband and caretaker Ken and her 3 beautiful daughters Hailey (19), Cassidy (14) and Charley (9). But they cannot do this alone.
This fund is being created not only to help with medical bills, which have already exceed 5 million dollars, but to create a safe home environment for Alanna as her condition worsens. I am asking, on behalf of Alanna and her family, to contribute any amount that you feel comfortable. Also, I would greatly appreciate if you would share this on your FB page to help spread the word. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Much love to all!
Today marks the 5 year anniversary that our beloved friend Alanna Barker received the Flu Mist vaccination. What she thought would protect her from the flu turned in to an illness that could not be diagnosed. Test after test, doctor after doctor, Alanna’s symptoms consisted of slurred words, paralysis on the left side of her face, numbness in her hands and feet and a significant amount of weight loss. Five long months later, on March 14, 2011, Alanna was finally diagnosed with Guillian Barre. Unfortunately, the damage to her body was irreversible. Because it took 5 months for the Guillain Barre diagnose, Alanna now has CIDP, which is the also known as Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy; an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. GBS is characterized by the rapid onset of numbness, weakness, and often paralysis of the legs, arms, breathing muscles, and face. Paralysis is ascending, meaning that it travels up the limbs from fingers and toes towards the torso.
After a trip to the Mayo Clinic in May 2012, Alanna endured18 months of chemo therapy, which resulted in the beginning of renal failure. In January 2015, Alanna was diagnosed with Addison’s Disease. Addison’s Disease is when the adrenal glands on your kidneys can no longer produce cortisol (an essential hormone to live). This is another disease that has no cure and is life threatening, as an adrenal crisis can take place and result in death. In April of this year, Alanna had 2 surgeries to implant a medical device in her sacrum nerves, which allows her to urinate on her own, instead of having to use a catheter.
Alanna is currently receiving IVIG treatments (intravenous immunoglobulin), which is a blood product administered by IV. It contains antibodies from over 1000 blood donors. This treatment takes 9 hours and is done every 3 weeks. Alanna’s body is rejecting the IVIG and as a result she now has chronic meningitis. Alanna spends much of her time in and out of the hospital due to seizures and other complications. As of today, Alanna’s paralysis is on the left side of her body, but is now starting to move up the right side of her body. She also has no feeling from her belly button down. There are no further treatments available to stop this disease, although the doctors hope that the IVIG will slow the progression of the paralysis, in order to extend her life as long as possible. Sadly, the paralysis will eventually take her life by suffocation or heart failure.
We are not sure how much longer Alanna has to live as this disease is progressing extremely fast. Keeping Alanna comfortable is the main goal as she experiences excruciating nerve and muscle pain. This Thursday, she will endure her 4th round of IVIG. Alanna tries to remain optimistic, but sometimes the pain and sadness of it all gets the best of her. Alanna is surrounded by her amazing loving husband and caretaker Ken and her 3 beautiful daughters Hailey (19), Cassidy (14) and Charley (9). But they cannot do this alone.
This fund is being created not only to help with medical bills, which have already exceed 5 million dollars, but to create a safe home environment for Alanna as her condition worsens. I am asking, on behalf of Alanna and her family, to contribute any amount that you feel comfortable. Also, I would greatly appreciate if you would share this on your FB page to help spread the word. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Much love to all!
Organizer and beneficiary
Debby Schwartz
Organizer
Littleton, CO
Alanna Barker
Beneficiary