Brandys Reconstructive Surgery goal
***GRAPHIC PICTURES BELOW TEXT***
Please read my story below and find out what has brought me to this point. I am hoping, with your help, to get reconstructive surgery on my upper arms and armpits. I have more pictures below my story that shows before and after Cushings diagnosis. Thank you.
In 2008, I was diagnosed with a terrible disease called Cushings disease. Up until about a year prior to my diagnosis, I was very fit, active, petite, and maintained a healthy weight. I started gaining weight rapidly with no known cause, so this set into motion months of testing and searching for an answer. I was finally diagnosed with Cushing's Disease. Cushings is a horrible, disfiguring disease. It is caused by a tumor, somewhere in your body, that produces too much of a hormone that tells your body to produce copious amounts of your bodies natural steroid and this causes rapid, uncontrolled weight gain. In essence, you blow up like a balloon animal. The weight gain isn't the worst of it either. For some reason, this disease causes very wide, long, dark stretch marks. When I first got them they were literally a shade of purple/burgundy! Of course these fade, somewhat, over time but you always have them. I have them, literally from my chest down to my ankles. My entire torso is covered. The diease also causes you to develop a moon shaped face, an extra layer (will you) of fat over your collar bone, and more. My tumor was found to be on my pituitary gland in my brain. I had to undergo two seperate brain surgeries in order to remove the pituitary gland and the tumor. After the diagnosis and surgery, I wasnt able to work due to a lengthy recovery time. The tumor was removed and I have been on replacement hormones for everything including thyroid hormones, steriod replacement hormones, female hormones, and growth hormones. Even though I had the tumor removed, I am not considered cured. I am in remission as this can come back at any time, although rare. Having my pituitary gland removed left me with many other medical conditions, none of which I had before. These include diabetes insipidus, fibromyalgia, pseudo tumor cerebri, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency, and my body is technically in menapause. It's a daily struggle to just have and live with these illnesses. I've tried my absolute hardest to work and live a normal functioning life, but that doesn't seem what life has planned for me. I am now currently seeing multiple doctors, on multiple medications, and live daily in pain. I will have to do this for the rest of my life. It's daunting to think about. I will have pain for the rest of my life, not be able to work, graduate college or get a degree, and will never be able to have kids of my own. I had planned to have all these things apart of my life. Not being able to accomplish these things and living with a body essentially foreign to me has caused me to have depression. I feel disgusted, helpless, and miserable having to live like this but I don't have many, if any, ways out. I have been with my significant other for over 13 years but have never had a wedding because of the way I feel in my skin. All you girls out there know that this is something you wish for and plan for your entire lives. Not being able to have things normal people do makes me depressed even more. I know, I know, I am lucky to even have someone that has stood by my side throughout all of this. I understand how rare and wonderful this is. Josh is my rock, my biggest supporter, and my best friend. Without him, I'm not sure I would have made it through to now. I am forever grateful for all he has done and does for me.
My sister got engaged in February and is getting married in March 2016. I will be there to stand by her side as her maid of honor.This made me so happy and honored yet anxious and worried. What's sad about it is that I had second thoughts of even doing it. I thought to myself, "I do not want to stand up there along side my gorgeous sister and her beautiful bridesmaids and look like I was mauled by a lion or badly burned in a fire. Not being comfortable in my own skin has caused me to miss out on many wonderful things in life. I am too ashamed of how I look. The only way I have ever been able to describe how i feel is this; imagine yourself walking down the street or through a store and you see a person that makes you think to yourself "I hope i never look like that" because they are too overweight or have bad scarring all over their body and then imagine how you would feel looking like that person. You've been yourself, however you've been up until this point, and now you're the person you hoped never to look like. This is how I feel on a daily basis since I gained all the weight and scarring from Cushing's. This too has contributed a lot to my depression. I am trying, very hard i might add, to get back to feeling comfortable in my skin again. At my highest weight I was at 210lbs. I have lost most of that weight. There are a few extra pounds that are hanging on for dear life but I am trying. I am also hoping to get reconstructive surgery on my upper arms and armpits. As you can see by the photo's in this post, they are badly scarred. I must do this to feel comfortable in my own skin again and to feel comfortable enough to stand by my sisters side as she becomes Mrs. I plead with each and every one of you to help me out. I know there are many people out there that will view this that I don't know or haven't seen in years and years. Those of you that do know me, know that I am a very warm hearted and caring soul. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, even my worst enemy (if i had one). I can't offer anything in return for your donation other than my appreciation, which i still feel isnt enough. I try to do all that I can for anyone that needs my help but now i need yours. I am unable to work due to all my diseases and conditions and am currently working on getting disability. We are, and have been for a while, living off one income. It is very hard to save for this surgery living off one modest income. If you are reading this and want to donate but feel a small sum isn't worth donating, you are wrong. I will be forever grateful for ANY donation of ANY amount. Please, Please, find it in your hearts to help me get back to feeling comfortable in my skin. Thank you so much for reading my story. Thank you so much, more than my words can express to those of you that donate.
Following are pictures of my journey from the beginning to now...
Pictures of my arm's and underarm's >>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my story. As I said before, anything will help me in my journey, even $5. I appreciate it more than you know.