Support Medical Costs

On March 21st, 2023 my life would change forever. 60 days earlier I had become my brother's caretaker as he fought his own health battle. Although exhausted and putting my life and business on hold, I felt honored and blessed to be able to care for my brother as I wish I could have for my dad. He began to heal over here at the inspired wellness spa.

Things were starting to look up after we survived a flood in my home, appliances all breaking at once, a cancer scare for my dog and spending time in Iowa after a death in the Robinson family.

Moments after I took the one wheel out the evening of 3/21/23 and as I began to accelerate, I heard the same voice I heard on my wedding day: “You should have a helmet on.” I tried to slow down, knowing the Holy Spirit was warning me. I leaned the wrong way and instead of slowing down, I sped up and the next thing I remember I had hit my head pretty hard, but there wasn’t any blood. I screamed for my boyfriend who later would tell me he thought I was being attacked by a mountain lion. I praised God for sparing my life. As I took inventory, I could not believe I was unharmed. In shock, I looked down at my left arm and could not understand why I had two left arms facing opposite directions. I looked over at my right shoulder and saw my right arm was okay, slowly turning back to grab my left arm before it fell on the ground. As I carefully walked towards my home holding my left arm to my torso, I heard:

“Broken arm, dislocated shoulder, paralyzed.”

I had an injury mostly seen in babies or motor vehicle accidents when a person is ejected out of the vehicle, bracing with an outstretched arm. On our way to the hospital, I asked God to give us a different experience than what I had endured in Utah advocating for my brother as neurologists attempted to involuntarily commit him to a psych ward for stress-induced seizures. For 12 days I was in and out of consciousness experiencing what is commonly referred to as a 'gun in mouth' type of pain. I have no memory of 7 days of my life. Turns out my dad was never suicidal, he was trying to describe nerve pain. Thankfully my medication helps ward off the piercing, fiery pain in my arm but when I take it, it takes my mind away.

On April 5th I walked into a hospital for a third opinion. The trauma surgeon laughed at me when I mentioned a brachial plexus injury he told me you only see those in motor vehicle accidents so please stop asking him. He gave me exercises to do and told me my recovery depended on my compliance. After my fourth opinion in Colorado Springs the next day, I gave up on opinions and I got to work on the exercises.

On April 24th (day 34) the Lord directed me to a fifth surgeon because my pain was intensifying each day. Dr. Micah began to expose the truth. It would take me 48 hours to process what was confirmed with a nerve study shortly after. I had indeed endured a brachial plexus injury after all. My axillary, subcutaneous, musculoskeletal, and radial nerves did not fire. The neurologist told me a story about another patient with a similar injury recovering significantly after a decade, and all I could think about was how bad this must be if the story he was telling me was supposed to give me hope. God had protected and provided for me over the first 50 days of the beautiful nightmare, and I knew He would continue to take care of me.

I have been living with this life-changing disability for the past 82 days. My arm is still paralyzed. I am unable to make food for myself, feed my dogs, or complete basic daily needs on my own. I slowly watched my family fall apart as this unbelievable journey traumatized us all. My friends stepped up and coordinated round-the-clock care for the first 50 days. My brother's back was re-injured after his surgery last December from lifting me in and out of bed while he was supposed to be healing. I've been living alone since May 3rd, and friends have been traveling from out of state to help with my intensive recovery and home health care.

I’ve exhausted every resort to keep myself afloat financially as medical bills and the costs for home healthcare began to pile up higher than I ever could have imagined possible. Most of my recovery and care is not covered by my insurance. This journey has quickly become a full-time job and may take years of recovery. It could be a lifetime of healing I have ahead.

Due to my current situation, and my schedule of multiple recovery therapies and doctor appointments every day, I have been unable to put the time, effort and energy into supporting and growing my wellness business like I normally would. I am eager to get back to my strong, capable and passionate self, but at this time all of my energy and focus is required for my healing.

I do believe in complete healing and recovery as my greatest physician is in control. I am feeling called to humbly ask for support financially at this time so I can focus all my efforts on healing. The desire of my heart is to rise through this season of my life in the desert with a redemption story like never before. I want to heal so I can continue to show up in this world as God calls me to. I want to encourage others to advocate for themselves in their own lives. I want to volunteer at Craig Hospital and offer complementary services for patients and families for trauma recovery. I want to encourage forgiveness for ourselves and others. I want to share resources with women for relaxing and healing from trauma. I want to serve, love and inspire others to heal. Right now, God is asking me to put these dreams on hold to rest, recover and heal.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers, love, encouragement and support.