Brooke Andersen's Life Changing Spinal Surgery
Donation protected
Brooke to Barcelona Medical Journey (click here to watch her story)
A look into physical therapy
Every girl dreams of getting married, having a family and living a happily ever after. That is what Brooke Andersen had always dreamed of too. She got married to the man of her dreams, had four beautiful boys and was excited for the rest of her life...
Though at a young age Brooke had already been dealing with chronic neck pain, headaches and migraines. She learned to accept them as her normal and didn't let them bring her down.
Roughly 2 years ago Brooke's symptoms started to really escalate. Then last spring she started passing out a lot and would black out. Lifting then became a big struggle even while trying to lift the syrup bottle to pour on her kids pancakes. Not soon after these symptoms rose that neurological issues decided to spike. She found herself in paralysis in the hospital unable to lift up her head, lost feeling in her ribs and legs and talking became a difficult task as well.
Fast forward to the fall of 2019, a trip to Denver, Vegas and then sending scans to Spain, a diagnosis was finally found in December. Brooke has been diagnosed with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), CCI (Craniocervical Instability), AAI (Atlanto-Axial Instability), Subaxial Instability and MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome).
That is a lot to take in, so long story short... Brooke's tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and organs are weakened. Loose joints and easily bruised. Her head is more like a bobble head and sits on her neck like loosy goosy (yes those are Brooke's words)! The discs are moving in all directions and there is basically no space in between so they grind. Though when she moves her head they grind and it pinches off the neurological pathways.
Brooke has been living in a neck brace and with so many challenges just to survive the pain each day. All while still trying to be a devoted wife and mother to her boys.
There are only a few surgeons who can do this surgery and the one who will take her case is in Spain. Brooke's surgery is scheduled for April 6, 2020 and will fly out March 27th.
With this surgery they will be fusing C0-T1 (the top of the neck to the top of her spine). This will hopefully give Brooke the best quality of life. In hopes that it brings her pain level down to a 2-4, lessens her headaches, minimizes her choking (while drinking), help with her breathing issues, numbness in her arms and legs and GI track issues.
All while going through all of this Brooke was also dealing with Postpartum Psychosis. It is still unknown if any of the other disorders assisted in this while pushing on her brain. Brooke has been unstoppable and has stood ground for her life. She refuses to give up even in the hardest of times. She loves her husband and boys fiercely and knows she can still have an amazing life with them.
Now comes our plea!! The surgery ALONE is costing $80,000 in cash as insurance will not cover any of it. Brooke and her husband Trevor have decided to sell their beautiful home they built to pay for the surgery. The surgeon has agreed to accept 3 payments, one of which they have already paid of $4k. The next payment of $12k is due March 5th and they are no where near close. We are asking from the bottom of our hearts to help Brooke and Trevor meet the middle payment. Please also pray that their house sells in time to make the final payment. The surgery itself is $80k, this does not include, follow ups and so many other factors. After the surgery they will have to find a way to get into a home or build a home that will be workable for Brooke. The medical expenses are never going to end and they will end up living in debt if we can't find a way to get them ahead. Please donate if you can, anything helps! If you can't, please join us in prayer that the house sells and they can meet the middle payment deadline!
OFFICIAL DIAGNOSISES
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a disease that weakens the connective tissues of your body. These are things like tendons and ligaments that hold parts of your body together. EDS can make your joints loose and your skin thin and easily bruised. It also can weaken blood vessels and organs
Craniocervical instability is a medical condition where there is excessive laxity of the ligaments at the atlanto-occipital joint and the atlanto-axial joint, between the skull and the top two vertebrae (C1 and C2).
Atlantoaxial instability (AAI) is characterized by excessive movement at the junction between the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) as a result of either a bony or ligamentous abnormality. Neurologic symptoms can occur when the spinal cord or adjacent nerve roots are involved
Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is one type of mast cell activation disorder (MCAD), and is an immunological condition in which mast cells inappropriately and excessively release chemical mediators, resulting in a range of chronic symptoms, sometimes including anaphylaxis or near-anaphylaxis attacks.
Subaxial Instability
Subaxial is c4-c7. It’s compressed. Grinding and sliding a lot back and forth when the head is moved. It pinches off the neurological pathways. c7-t1 is pinching pathways as well. The fusion goes to T1 to make it most stable and to try to avoid the vertebra below giving out
A look into physical therapy
Every girl dreams of getting married, having a family and living a happily ever after. That is what Brooke Andersen had always dreamed of too. She got married to the man of her dreams, had four beautiful boys and was excited for the rest of her life...
Though at a young age Brooke had already been dealing with chronic neck pain, headaches and migraines. She learned to accept them as her normal and didn't let them bring her down.
Roughly 2 years ago Brooke's symptoms started to really escalate. Then last spring she started passing out a lot and would black out. Lifting then became a big struggle even while trying to lift the syrup bottle to pour on her kids pancakes. Not soon after these symptoms rose that neurological issues decided to spike. She found herself in paralysis in the hospital unable to lift up her head, lost feeling in her ribs and legs and talking became a difficult task as well.
Fast forward to the fall of 2019, a trip to Denver, Vegas and then sending scans to Spain, a diagnosis was finally found in December. Brooke has been diagnosed with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), CCI (Craniocervical Instability), AAI (Atlanto-Axial Instability), Subaxial Instability and MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome).
That is a lot to take in, so long story short... Brooke's tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and organs are weakened. Loose joints and easily bruised. Her head is more like a bobble head and sits on her neck like loosy goosy (yes those are Brooke's words)! The discs are moving in all directions and there is basically no space in between so they grind. Though when she moves her head they grind and it pinches off the neurological pathways.
Brooke has been living in a neck brace and with so many challenges just to survive the pain each day. All while still trying to be a devoted wife and mother to her boys.
There are only a few surgeons who can do this surgery and the one who will take her case is in Spain. Brooke's surgery is scheduled for April 6, 2020 and will fly out March 27th.
With this surgery they will be fusing C0-T1 (the top of the neck to the top of her spine). This will hopefully give Brooke the best quality of life. In hopes that it brings her pain level down to a 2-4, lessens her headaches, minimizes her choking (while drinking), help with her breathing issues, numbness in her arms and legs and GI track issues.
All while going through all of this Brooke was also dealing with Postpartum Psychosis. It is still unknown if any of the other disorders assisted in this while pushing on her brain. Brooke has been unstoppable and has stood ground for her life. She refuses to give up even in the hardest of times. She loves her husband and boys fiercely and knows she can still have an amazing life with them.
Now comes our plea!! The surgery ALONE is costing $80,000 in cash as insurance will not cover any of it. Brooke and her husband Trevor have decided to sell their beautiful home they built to pay for the surgery. The surgeon has agreed to accept 3 payments, one of which they have already paid of $4k. The next payment of $12k is due March 5th and they are no where near close. We are asking from the bottom of our hearts to help Brooke and Trevor meet the middle payment. Please also pray that their house sells in time to make the final payment. The surgery itself is $80k, this does not include, follow ups and so many other factors. After the surgery they will have to find a way to get into a home or build a home that will be workable for Brooke. The medical expenses are never going to end and they will end up living in debt if we can't find a way to get them ahead. Please donate if you can, anything helps! If you can't, please join us in prayer that the house sells and they can meet the middle payment deadline!
OFFICIAL DIAGNOSISES
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a disease that weakens the connective tissues of your body. These are things like tendons and ligaments that hold parts of your body together. EDS can make your joints loose and your skin thin and easily bruised. It also can weaken blood vessels and organs
Craniocervical instability is a medical condition where there is excessive laxity of the ligaments at the atlanto-occipital joint and the atlanto-axial joint, between the skull and the top two vertebrae (C1 and C2).
Atlantoaxial instability (AAI) is characterized by excessive movement at the junction between the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) as a result of either a bony or ligamentous abnormality. Neurologic symptoms can occur when the spinal cord or adjacent nerve roots are involved
Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is one type of mast cell activation disorder (MCAD), and is an immunological condition in which mast cells inappropriately and excessively release chemical mediators, resulting in a range of chronic symptoms, sometimes including anaphylaxis or near-anaphylaxis attacks.
Subaxial Instability
Subaxial is c4-c7. It’s compressed. Grinding and sliding a lot back and forth when the head is moved. It pinches off the neurological pathways. c7-t1 is pinching pathways as well. The fusion goes to T1 to make it most stable and to try to avoid the vertebra below giving out
Organizer and beneficiary
Julie Andersen
Organizer
Santaquin, UT
Brooke Andersen
Beneficiary