Ben Alley's Continuing Journey

Each day is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.  In a mere blink of an eye life can change so very dramatically.  Our dear friend Ben Alley got sick in early September only he didn’t realize he was sick.  He suffered a headache, don’t we all?  His didn’t go away.  He had a little cough, he had a lot of stress, he was really tired…all sounds familiar, right?  Only Ben’s headache didn’t go away.  It was blamed on an infected hair follicle, due to the infection.  The infection required surgery.  The events of the infection and the surgery caused a dormant kidney stone to become awakened.  A kidney stone makes you sick.  Pain, headache, nausea.  The headache got blamed on the kidney stone….it required surgery (#2) within 4 days.  A stent had to be placed.  Not everyone tolerates a stent……. headache, nausea.  Well the headache and nausea were treated with lots of medicine and several ED visits only the headache didn’t go away.  A diagnosis of aseptic meningitis was made, on to the ICU, only it didn’t improve so from the first surgery on Sept 30 until Nov 5 Ben suffered with the headache, nausea and vomiting. The diagnosis was made on 11/5/2016 after the 2nd spinal tap – a very, very rare diagnosis.  Cryptococcal meningitis.  Heathy individuals do not contract crypto. The crypto invades your spinal fluid.  The infectious disease doctor stated at the diagnosis that it was a like a steam roller.  His intracranial pressure soared. Ben was hospitalized 4 times from Sept 30 the latest being a nearly two month long hospitalization from 11/17/2016 – January 13, 2017. Ben has had 19 spinal taps to test and relieve the intracranial pressure. Crypto is an organism Ben has been around in his daily work life forever. Something will all encounter each time we are outside digging in the dirt. Something in early Sept caused his immune system to be compromised -  for him to be able to contract the disease.  The infectious disease doctor’s in Greensboro have worked hand in hand with the doctors at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland since the diagnosis.  Ben received a much needed IV therapy for over 8 weeks, a toxic concoction called amphotericin b.  He has been deathly ill, suffered hallucinations, double vision, blurred vision, weeks upon weeks of nausea and vomiting, has become anorexic, emaciated and totally confused.  The AmphoTerrible has killed the crypto get it remains in his spinal fluid.  High dose steroids are working to rid the crypto from his spinal fluid.  Ben was transferred by ambulance to the NIH 12/20/2016.  After nearly three months of being so very sick and hospitalized for the greatest share of the last three months of 2016 and half the first month of 2017 I ask your help for our dear friend.  The road to recovery will be very lengthy.  The hospitalization length in Maryland lasted 2 days shy of a month.  There will need to be extensive rehabilitation.  His vision in his left eye and hearing in his left ear is impaired. He has lost the use of his right hand.

 

This disease is so very rare that only 100 documented cases exist since the study of cryptococcal meningitis began 5.5 years ago – in the ENTIRE world.  100 – and one of those cases is our own Ben Alley.  Medical bills, upfront payment of ambulance transport to the NIH,  daily bills continue to arrive, with no return to normalcy date known………No insurance, no work, no pay……..Ben will survive, he is a fighter, his being here today is proof positive – he is tough as we all know……..and more importantly than all else God has shown us that He has great plans for Ben Alley, he will survive this surreal ordeal.  Thank you for your consideration of helping Ben mend his life back to normal……thanking God for all the wonderful people he has put along our path as Ben Alley’s journey continues.  Love, hugs and kisses to you all.