Empower Gina Hickey's Journey to Healing

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Hi there, for those of you who don’t know me, my name is Gina Hickey and on July 29th of this year I was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). It’s best described as an issue with the way the brain sends and receives signals with the body.

For years I was in and out of hospitals, ER’s, and clinics presenting with slurred speech, stammering, convulsions, inability to use my arms or legs, and at times full body paralysis. I underwent seizure studies, sleep studies, a spinal tap, MRI’s from my head to my tailbone, medication trials, and blood work that all came back normal. It wasn’t until I was able to be evaluated by a neurologist who had heard of FND was I finally diagnosed.

Unfortunately, because the condition is so new to the medical community, treatment varies from patient to patient. As of now, there is no cure or medication, and the only advice I was given was to try and prevent more episodes. To do this I have to see my neurologist, a psychiatrist, an occupational therapist, and a speech therapist. I live in a very rural community with limited healthcare resources, meaning I have to travel over 4 hours one way to see my neurologist every 4 months. With a multidisciplinary approach, it also requires a lot of time for appointments which currently isn’t possible as I have a full time job trying to pay my rent, bills, care for my dogs, as well as maintain health insurance so I can attend appointments when possible.

Functional Neurological Disorder can rewire my brain over time, causing the symptoms I experience during episodes to become more and more permanent. Those with this condition have ended up in wheelchairs, loss of vision or hearing, or inability to control their limbs without intervention to help try to stop the attacks.

At 31, I have already been through the wringer. I have been dealing with chronic hives that occur nightly for 6 years, endometriosis with cysts that rupture monthly, Complex Post Traumatic Stress from situations throughout my 20’s, a near drowning that left me in the trauma ward with water in my lungs, along with other factors and complications. My apartment flooded the day after Christmas last year from a broken pipe in the fire alarm system, followed by a divorce that left me sleeping on my mom’s one bedroom floor, or moving from one temporary situation to another.

So, after trying to make ends meet on my own for a long time, I’m trying to swallow some of my pride and ask for help. I don't want to believe that the rest of my life has to be a decline, and even though I’m scared of all the unknowns, I have two adorable dogs to feed and love, a mom who needs a daughter to watch Survivor with, and a brother who needs a sister to remind him of the good times.

Whatever it is you might be able to donate would go towards helping cover travel, appointments, medications, rent, bills, groceries, and making sure my two biggest supporters (Chewie and Frances, my dogs) are able to live the best life possible with a momma who can take them on all the walks and adventures they deserve. This fund will be used to help me be able to rebuild and change my future, and allow me the chance to heal and know that the barrier to a more caring, loving, and empathetic version of me is not money.

I hope to be able to take time to work on my health and become stronger to pursue my favorite job, nursing. I want to leave this world with a positive impact, and I want and hope to inspire others who have been through so much that you can still have a better future no matter what obstacles or trauma you have endured.

Thank you to anyone for even taking the time to read this, and please know that I sincerely appreciate any and all support that comes my way. Whether it’s financial, or emotional, or even just some words of encouragement. I know this world is incredibly tough for all of us right now, and I’m sure we all feel the heaviness.

So from me, Chewie, and Frances we all truly appreciate all of you taking time out of your day to read our story.