Support Annalicia's Brain Surgery Recovery

If you know Annalicia, there is no doubt you have witnessed her hardworking, selfless, positive personality.

At 24 years young, Annalicia is a graduate of the AMDA Los Angeles  BFA Acting Program, an entrepreneur in her nonprofit organization REAL , a filmmaker, a caretaker, and a geriatric enrichment leader at Belmont Village of Hollywood  for patients with Dementia or Alzheimer's (where btw she earned a Superstar Staff Award in 2018).

DISCOVERING A BRAIN CYST

In April of 2019 Annalicia called in to work sick, which was very unusual for her, after an ER visit due to illness. In May 2019, she again returned to the ER after experiencing paralysis on the left side of her face. There, she was diagnosed with Bells Palsy, and a cyst  at the base of her brain.

She was placed on disability to recover in May & June, and returned to work soon after. I remember seeing her while working a film set, and she still didn't seem like herself. I asked her what was happening, and she noted all the side effects of a brain injury - confusion, dizziness, and migraines. As a survivor of a brain injury myself, I was blown away that she was reporting to work. But I knew she had to. As a young person having just embarked on her career, she was in no financial position to take the time she needed to heal, after being hit with a loss of income and a finding of medical bills.

ANNALICIA PERSEVERES

Although her migraines were getting worse, she continued to work more than full time, determined to stay on her feet and pay off her medical debt. But this was not what her body needed. She continued to push through, but on January 31st, 2020, she was placed back on medical leave.

Between September of 2019 to current, her neurologist tried many non-invasive treatments, including botox injections, hormone therapy, medication, muscle relaxers, and more. Some of these are injections which she has to administer to herself.

Through this process, her doctors have discovered the cyst is larger than assumed, there is an additional cyst on Annalicia's spine, and the fluid within the cyst is not free-flowing. Her doctors conclude that the brain cyst is the problem and in May 2020, recommended a brain surgery to remove the cyst.

SHE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

The SARS-COV2 pandemic has made it difficult for Annalicia to have it scheduled, but her surgery has finally been put on the calendar for August 5, 2020 at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, CA.

I am asking for your support, so we can help her appropriately begin her journey to recovery.

We are asking for $13,500 to cover a portion of Annalicia's past and future expenses, including travel, living expenses, and medical copays.*

-Debt Accrued during 8 mos. of disability (40%+ of income lost): $8,000

-Living Expenses during 8 week recovery (40% of income lost): $4,000

-Family travel to & from Texas, for in-home care during her recovery: $1,500

-Past Medical Debt: $4,000 (for scans, injections, medication, etc.)

-Future Medical Debt: ranges anywhere from $1,500 to $12,000 (TBD)

*some debt was already able to be paid of because of Annalicia's perseverance!

TOTAL: $17,500 + future medical debt of $1,500 to $12,000 (TBD)

= $19,000 - 29,500


WHY DO I CARE

What doesn't need to be said is that medical debt feels like prison. 32% of Americans have medical debt , and over half of that percentage have defaulted on it. This is a heavy ball-and-chain for a 24 year old who also bears the burden of student loan debt in pursuit of her American Dream. Annalicia shouldn't have to face bankruptcy and a hit to her shiny new credit score because of a true medical emergency.

This story is also personal to me. At 27 years young, I was hit by an oncoming sledder in Park City, UT. I miraculously came out alive with a fractured skull and a brain hemorrhage. I was offered very little, if any, support and was determined to get myself back on my feet as if nothing had ever happened.

Like Annalicia, I pushed through, pretending I was okay, striving to get "back to normal", and working two jobs to pay down medical debt as soon as I was cleared to return to work. But this was not what my body needed. I should have been recovering. The most frustrating part of a brain injury is that you are deeply hurting, but no one can see it.

It took nearly two years before I felt close to myself, but the side effects of a brain injury still linger to this day eight years later - from personality changes to low self-esteem to body inflammation to PTSD. Annalicia needs our support!

I hate to see Annalicia struggling. She is truly salt-of-the-earth, and deserves every support we can offer. This is only the start of her recovery.

Will you support Annalicia, spread the word, and join me in helping her through her recovery journey?

Annalicia quotes she strives "to be a voice of hope and positivity [...] to anyone in life who needs a helping hand ". So let's aid her extending that hand!

TAG US! Use #AnnaliciasArachnoid to spread the word!

Want to donate, but not on GoFundMe? Feel free to Venmo @mandyekman or send snail mail to:

Amanda Ekman

PO BOX 291222

Los Angeles CA, 90029