Ciera Bierbaugh - Brain Surgery Bills and Recovery
Donation protected
Hello,
I'm raising money on behalf of my best friend, Ciera Bierbaugh. On Thursday, Jan. 23, Ciera will undergo brain surgery in the hopes of curing her Trigeminal Neuralgia, facial spasms, zygomatic and ocular neuralgia, and repairing nerve damage. The funds raised here will go toward her medical bills as well as funds needed for expenses during her extensive recovery time.
TN is a chronic facial condition and neuropathic disorder characterized by episodes of intense pain in the face, originating from the trigeminal nerve. It is considered one of the most painful medical conditions possible, so much so that it is also known as the Suicide Disease (urmc.rochester.edu). At this point, Ciera's doctors have exhausted other treatment options and determined that brain surgery is her only remaining option.
Ciera's recovery journey will be a long one. She will remain in the ICU for 3-4 days post-op. She will then have at least 6 weeks of incredibly restricted mobility before she can begin to slowly work in normal daily tasks. Full recovery can take anywhere from 2 to 15 months.
For the past few years, Ciera has struggled with "invisible" illnesses that cause her extreme sickness and pain, both chronic and acute. TN often exacerbates her other conditions; it prevents her from addressing her other health issues. Along with her other conditions, it also prevents her from living a normal life and earning a consistent income.
Like most people in her situation, she has often faced the adversity of not being believed by employers, teachers, friends, and even doctors. I have personally sat with her in the emergency room, during the middle of a TN attack, and witnessed a doctor come in, offer no in-depth examination, dismiss her pain, and refuse to provide treatment, all in about five minutes. It has taken her years to find doctors who have an understanding of TN, who would listen to her, and who would walk this journey with her. Throughout her experiences, she has always been determined to persevere, never losing her passion for theatre, nor her willingness to do whatever she can for her friends and family. She gives everything and often doesn't leave much for herself. I hope if you are reading this, you will also consider walking this journey with her, with her doctors, with her family and friends, through your donation.
I will link her YouTube channel where she has chosen to document her surgery and recovery process, and post updates as they are available. Thank you for donating, listening, and sharing.
-Blythe
I'm raising money on behalf of my best friend, Ciera Bierbaugh. On Thursday, Jan. 23, Ciera will undergo brain surgery in the hopes of curing her Trigeminal Neuralgia, facial spasms, zygomatic and ocular neuralgia, and repairing nerve damage. The funds raised here will go toward her medical bills as well as funds needed for expenses during her extensive recovery time.
TN is a chronic facial condition and neuropathic disorder characterized by episodes of intense pain in the face, originating from the trigeminal nerve. It is considered one of the most painful medical conditions possible, so much so that it is also known as the Suicide Disease (urmc.rochester.edu). At this point, Ciera's doctors have exhausted other treatment options and determined that brain surgery is her only remaining option.
Ciera's recovery journey will be a long one. She will remain in the ICU for 3-4 days post-op. She will then have at least 6 weeks of incredibly restricted mobility before she can begin to slowly work in normal daily tasks. Full recovery can take anywhere from 2 to 15 months.
For the past few years, Ciera has struggled with "invisible" illnesses that cause her extreme sickness and pain, both chronic and acute. TN often exacerbates her other conditions; it prevents her from addressing her other health issues. Along with her other conditions, it also prevents her from living a normal life and earning a consistent income.
Like most people in her situation, she has often faced the adversity of not being believed by employers, teachers, friends, and even doctors. I have personally sat with her in the emergency room, during the middle of a TN attack, and witnessed a doctor come in, offer no in-depth examination, dismiss her pain, and refuse to provide treatment, all in about five minutes. It has taken her years to find doctors who have an understanding of TN, who would listen to her, and who would walk this journey with her. Throughout her experiences, she has always been determined to persevere, never losing her passion for theatre, nor her willingness to do whatever she can for her friends and family. She gives everything and often doesn't leave much for herself. I hope if you are reading this, you will also consider walking this journey with her, with her doctors, with her family and friends, through your donation.
I will link her YouTube channel where she has chosen to document her surgery and recovery process, and post updates as they are available. Thank you for donating, listening, and sharing.
-Blythe
Organizer and beneficiary
Blythe Lavender
Organizer
Urbana, OH
Ciera Bierbaugh
Beneficiary
