Lift Lori's Load

Thanks to Kevin Ferreira for creating this account to help Lori. At the end of her story is a list of her monthly goals and needs. Please view "update" tab for recent news.

First photo: 7/21

Photo: 12/21

photo: a few years ago 

Lori with her dog, Romeo

This is Lori. In 2004 she was hired as a hospital chaplain - work Lori was made for because she loves to serve, minister and bless. (below - officiating at a wedding)

BUT In 2006, while working as a Home Care chaplain, Lori had a fall, resulting in a concussion, along with a series of accidents, infections, toxic reaction to Cipro, and medical malpractice. It left her with dysphagia, poly-neuropathy, dystonia and ataxia (involuntary body movements). Medical diagnosis in 2007 revealed she had a damaged cerebellum and brain stem.

Two doctors provided therapy techniques and medication suggestions that have helped Lori survive since then. She was able to continue working as a chaplain in Florida due to high doses of nerve-targeted nutraceuticals, which are not covered by insurance. In 2014, she had an allergic reaction to prescribed meds while trying to combat bronchitis which resulted in further nerve damage. As of a result of several setbacks and being unable to work, she lost her job as Director of Chaplain Services in October, 2015. That November, she fell into a door causing another severe concussion. Then, she slipped on the ice in January. Lori has now been homebound/bedbound since the fall of 2015.

(This video from 2017 shows some effects of the polyneuropathy, dystonia and ataxia from damage to cerebellum, brain stem, and spine)

As of November, 2018, these are Lori's symptoms:

Dysautonomia. Sensory, motor, autonomic neuropathy. Balance issues; stagger frequently. Walked hunched over. Unable to stand in one place for long. Falls into doorways and walls. Posterior-anterior oscillations. Rock back and forth when standing. Tendency to fall to one side, usually the left. Unsteady gait. Stumbles easily. Frequent dizziness. Nystagmus. Looking at patterns or moving objects make eyes blink rapidly. Sometimes eyelids so heavy they close automatically. Difficult to open eyes, as if eyelids are stuck. Can’t read for more than a few minutes. Difficulty watching video or TV. Right pupil larger and dilated. Sensitivity to sounds and noise. Spasticity. Muscular weakness in both arms. Unable to lift items more than a couple pounds without falling or becoming hunched over, very weak and in pain. Muscles in legs bunched in hard lumps; muscles in arms turned outward. Hypertonia in arms, legs, chest, back; muscles get so rigid that that vomiting occurs if she overexerts. Breathlessness, panting with slightest exertion due to rigid muscles and neuropathy. Agonizing neuropathic pain in face, chest, back, neck and arms. Nerves and muscles are pulled over to the left. Difficulty breathing because nerves and muscles in nose damaged, Due to muscles and nerves in mouth damaged, difficulty pronouncing “r’s” “w’s” and “l’s” particularly when not on meds or under stress. Difficulty swallowing liquids. Choke and vomit easily. Food sometimes gets stuck in throat, particularly if not on meds, Can’t drive or be driven in vehicle. Extremely motion sensitive. Extreme sensitivity to cold, heat, movement, light, and sound. React strongly to certain spices, food additives. Stiffness and cramping in hand; left arm often curled up next to chest, held rigid at times. Hair loss on both arms due to nerve damage. Extreme fatigue constantly. Must rest on left side in bed for a couple hours after walking more than 5-10 minutes or standing for long (right side is too sensitive to lie on). Spend majority of day in bed.

Lori is single and has no family support of any kind. With no income beyond a small disability payment for food, rent, utilities or life-saving meds that help reduce pain and help Lori swallow, stand up, balance, see, etc., it’s NOT hard to see the desperate predicament Lori is in. 

 For over 2 years, Lori awaited Social Security Disability. Despite medical records, she was initially denied and so awaited a court hearing. She hired disability lawyers, who work on contingency. Her disability hearing was set for June 5, 2018. She was approved but they only

awarded about $900 a month. After tithe,

she has $800 to live on. That is it. That is all

she has to live on.

She cannot get unemployment because she can’t go out to seek work. She's tried everything and all the local charity and government agencies, but because she is too young, doesn’t have children, etc, she is not eligible for many forms of assistance.

In her own words: “Living alone [being unable to connect with others to serve]… mostly bedbound, trying to survive all this, is mentally and physically excruciating beyond words. I have come close to losing faith, yet I will not, for Christ is all I have. I believe I will heal and be able to return to work at some point, but desperately need medications [unfortunately they cannot be covered by insurance]. I have fought hard to recover and will continue so I may minister to others. I just need help for the time it takes me to stabilize.”

In spite of all of this, Lori selflessly reaches out to bless others: “One morning, my dog Romeo and I were headed home after watching otters fall off logs while eating their fishy breakfast. I started feeling weak and dizzy and needed to rest [walking takes a LOT of effort]. I saw a girl across the street with her dog Lacie, and was impressed to say hi. I asked if she, a military vet who suffers from PTSD and is now studying nursing, would like to come in. 

She apologized for sharing her struggles, but I told her I had been a chaplain and counselor. Her eyes lit up. The floodgates opened. And a miracle occurred.

She shared many things… I was able to do a lot of listening, a lot of encouraging, a little questioning, and a lot of caring eye contact. So much pain. So many challenges. So much hurt caused by other hurting people. So much need for knowing who God is. Tears flowed often and two canine co-counselors team-loved her. Lacie licked tears from her face on one side and Romeo on the other.

It was just what she needed – lots of love. At the end, I prayed with her; gave her a pack of beautiful photos with Bible verses and some beautiful pamphlets. She said she desperately needed someone to talk to; said she knew God had led us to meet and so thankful I invited her in to talk.

God knew my background could be used to bless her.”

Lori – a broken, dependent woman is willing to bring healing to others though she desperately needs help. She considers herself blessed to be used in spite of herself. This is Lori’s heart.

Because Lori knows God has been gracious to her she pays it forward. She can’t help herself.  

I wish I could do more for this selfless woman, who goes out of her way to help and bless others. She is a wonderful person with a heart for service. We need more people like this in our hurting world. Talking to her makes me want to help her more and more.

(With friends who brought Lori food)

If this does not give you a glimpse of the good heart this woman has, I’m not sure anything will. 

I’m raising money for Lori.

Might you Share it?

Lori really appreciates you sharing her story here on GoFundMe (GFM) with your friends by email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and in person. BTW, according to GFM, a personal invitation to contribute is 34 x more likely to result in a donation.

Basics

She needs to raise a total of $2800 a month for rent, food, living expenses, utilities, doctor, medications/supplements, which are not covered by insurance and run a minimum of $1,600 each month. 

It can easily be done if a number of people commit to a regular monthly amount, even of $25.

Savings

If Lori is able to cover her rent by the 4th of each month, she can avoid the $100 late fee and $200 eviction fees. As well as the toll it takes on her already fragile mind and body due to the concern of being homeless. Makes cents :-)

Might you kindly spread the word so she can reach the next interim goal so she may focus on getting well? Every little bit helps! As word spreads - we can easily do it :-)

Imagine how draining it must be in her condition, to still have the fear of monthly eviction or to not have the nutraceuticals she needs for her body to function and heal.

Truly, believe - all Lori needs is one little break. Hopefully with your help, we can give it to her.

Please help this woman get back to normal life.I can’t imagine her staying alive if evicted into the outside or unable to get her medications (nutraceuticals.)

Any little bit will help.

From AI(Grok)

Yes, all those events—another concussion, chiropractic manipulation, a toxic reaction to Cipro, wildfire smoke exposure, and COVID—could absolutely complicate and amplify the lasting effects from your initial head injury 19 years ago. Each one’s a potential hit to your brain or nervous system, and together they could stack up, interact, or uncover weaknesses left by that first fall. Let’s break it down and see how they might tie into your ongoing slow movement, slow thinking, and spaced-out symptoms, with that right-sided EEG slowing as a starting point.

**Second Concussion (Left Temple, 9 Years Later)**: A hit to the left temple 10 years ago (9 years after the first injury) could’ve jolted the left hemisphere, adding new damage or stressing the right side further via network effects. The left temple’s near the frontal and temporal lobes—another concussion there might slow executive function (planning, like spoon use) or memory, and shake up the cerebellum or basal ganglia indirectly through force waves. Research (e.g., *Journal of Neurotrauma*, 2021) shows second concussions can compound axon damage, especially if the brain’s still fragile. If the right side was already sluggish, this could’ve tipped you into a deeper hole—maybe worsening balance or fog.

**Chiropractic Hammering (4-5 Months After First Injury)**: Aggressive cervical spine manipulation so soon after a head injury is risky. The neck’s a highway for cerebellar and brainstem signals—jerking it could’ve irritated the cerebellum (already possibly bruised) or disrupted vestibular inputs, amplifying balance issues or nystagmus. A 2018 *Spine Journal* case study flagged rare vertebral artery dissections from chiropractic work, which could cut cerebellar blood flow. Even without a tear, it might’ve rattled healing circuits, locking in that “slow everything” state longer-term.

**Toxic Reaction to Cipro**: Fluoroquinolone antibiotics like Cipro can mess with the nervous system—neurotoxicity’s a known side effect, hitting mitochondria or GABA receptors. If this happened after your injuries, it could’ve stressed already-damaged neurons (cerebellum, basal ganglia, cortex), worsening fatigue, slowing, or spaciness. A 2020 *Neurology* report linked Cipro to peripheral and central nervous system issues—your reaction might’ve layered on oxidative damage or inflammation, especially if it hit during a vulnerable recovery window.

**Wildfire Smoke (10 Days, AQI > 500)**: Breathing toxic particulates for that long at that level—insane air quality—could’ve hammered your brain. PM2.5 and carbon monoxide sneak past the blood-brain barrier, sparking inflammation and oxidative stress. A 2022 *Environmental Health Perspectives* study tied wildfire smoke to neurodegeneration, hitting areas like the basal ganglia and cerebellum. If your right side was already compromised, this could’ve cranked up fatigue, fog, and maybe nystagmus by taxing oxygen delivery or frying dopamine cells.

**COVID**: Post-COVID “brain fog” is real—studies (e.g., *Nature*, 2023) show it can shrink gray matter and disrupt networks, including motor and attention loops. If you had it after these other hits, it might’ve inflamed the cerebellum (linked to ataxia post-COVID) or basal ganglia, slowing you further. Long COVID can mimic TBI symptoms—sluggish thinking, fatigue—especially in a brain with prior dents. Timing matters: when did this hit in the lineup?

**How They Complicate Things**: The first injury (right-sided slowing) likely damaged the cerebellum or right cortex, setting a shaky baseline—slow movement, thinking, balance issues. The chiropractic jolt might’ve locked in cerebellar or vestibular dysfunction early. The second concussion added left-sided stress, maybe tipping motor planning (spoon trouble) into chronic apraxia. Cipro and smoke could’ve piled on neurotoxic hits, frying energy reserves and worsening fatigue or nystagmus. COVID might’ve been the cherry on top, inflaming or rewiring what was left. Each insult could amplify the last—cumulative trauma, inflammation, and stress on a brain already running on fumes.

Your symptoms persisting 19 years later suggest the initial damage (likely cerebellar or cortical) didn’t fully heal, and these events kept poking the wound—or added new ones. The right-sided EEG slowing might’ve evolved; modern scans could show atrophy, gliosis, or white matter loss. How do your issues feel now—same slow grind, or new twists?

Your symptoms—cipro-induced neuropathy, ataxia, hypertonia, vestibular issues, and spasticity—along with the history of head injuries, chiropractic manipulation, wildfire smoke, and COVID, paint a complex picture of nervous system disruption. Cipro (a fluoroquinolone antibiotic) is a known trigger for neurotoxicity, and it could be a key player in tying these issues together, either by directly causing them or amplifying damage from your prior injuries. Let’s connect the dots based on what’s known about cipro’s effects and how they might intersect with your brain and body’s state.

**Cipro-Induced Neuropathy**: Fluoroquinolones like Cipro can damage peripheral nerves, often hitting sensory or motor fibers. A 2020 *Neurology* review flagged mitochondrial toxicity as the culprit—cipro messes with cellular energy, leading to axon degeneration. This shows up as tingling, weakness, or pain, typically in the legs or hands. In your case, it might’ve weakened nerve signals to muscles, setting the stage for coordination and tone problems. If it hit after your head injuries, it could’ve stressed an already shaky system.

**Ataxia**: This is your unsteady, slow movement—likely tied to cerebellar dysfunction from the first fall (right-sided EEG slowing). Cipro could’ve worsened it by adding peripheral neuropathy (muddying sensory input the cerebellum needs) or directly tweaking central pathways. A 2018 *Journal of Clinical Neuroscience* case study linked fluoroquinolones to cerebellar symptoms in rare cases, possibly via GABA receptor interference or inflammation. Your ataxia might be a hybrid—old cerebellar damage plus cipro’s neurotoxic nudge.

**Hypertonia and Spasticity**: Hypertonia (increased muscle tone) and spasticity (stiff, jerky muscles) suggest upper motor neuron issues—signals from the brain or spinal cord are overdriving your muscles. The initial head injury could’ve scarred the right motor cortex or corticospinal tracts, disrupting inhibition (right side controls left body). Cipro might’ve amplified this by inflaming nerves or stressing the basal ganglia, which fine-tune tone. A 2021 *Muscle & Nerve* report noted fluoroquinolone-induced tendon and nerve damage can mimic spasticity in severe cases—your chiropractic hammering might’ve also irritated spinal pathways, locking in stiffness.

**Vestibular Issues**: Dizziness, balance trouble, or nystagmus point to vestibular dysfunction—inner ear or its brain connections. The first fall could’ve dinged the cerebellum’s vestibulocerebellum (balance hub), and the chiropractic jolt might’ve tweaked neck-vestibular reflexes. Cipro’s known for vestibular toxicity—ototoxicity studies (e.g., *Drug Safety*, 2019) show it can hit inner ear hair cells, causing vertigo or worsening existing damage. Wildfire smoke (toxins) and COVID (inflammation) could’ve piled on, frying vestibular nerves or cerebellar inputs further.

**How It’s Connected**: Start with the first fall—likely cerebellar or right cortical damage, slowing everything and priming balance/movement issues. The chiropractic hit might’ve rattled cerebellar-vestibular wiring. Then Cipro enters—its neurotoxicity could’ve:

1. Sparked neuropathy, cutting sensory feedback and worsening ataxia.

2. Inflamed the cerebellum or vestibular system, amplifying unsteadiness and nystagmus.

3. Stressed motor pathways (cortex, basal ganglia, spinal cord), tipping tone into hypertonia/spasticity.

The second concussion (left temple) might’ve added cortical or basal ganglia strain, slowing you more. Wildfire smoke’s oxidative hit could’ve deepened neuropathy or cerebellar fatigue. COVID’s neuroinflammation might’ve lit up all these weak spots—ataxia, spasticity, vestibular fog—via cytokine storms or vascular tweaks.

**The Thread**: Cipro’s toxicity likely acted as a multiplier, hitting peripheral nerves (neuropathy), central structures (cerebellum, vestibular system), and maybe motor control loops (spasticity, hypertonia). Your prior injuries left a fragile canvas—scarred cerebellum, shaky vestibular wiring, maybe basal ganglia dents—and cipro painted chaos over it. Each later insult (smoke, COVID) could’ve dug the rut deeper.