Everyone's helper needs help herself ASAP

Hi! My name is Marianne Douglas and I'm setting this up to help two very busy sisters fundraise to help their amazing mom Jane Finn. Both Jane and one of her daughters Kristie were my students and I'm honored to be able to help support them in this very difficult time. Hope you'll join me in helping this wonderful family out.

Here's Jane's story as told by her daughters:

Those of you who know our mother know she has always been the very best at everything she does. The best friend, mother, caregiver, nurse, classroom mom, soccer mom, neighborhood mom. She was always loved by all her patients and coworkers throughout her 28 years of hospital nursing, and always gave extraordinary care to family and friends. She has gone above and beyond her entire life to give to and care for others. Over the past 15 years we have slowly watched that caregiver become the one who needed caring. We are hoping to rally enough people whose lives she has touched, to help support her in continuing to fight for her life each day.

We recently realized that sometime between 2006 and 2008 she was given 2 of the worst antibiotics ever made. Years of suffering with nerve pain and countless visits with specialists turned no definitive answers. Until we met an astute neurologist in 2020 who asked if we had ever been told her thiamine levels drawn in 2015 were “critically low”. He felt that being thiamine deficient for over 5 years would explain all of her symptoms. We strongly believe that she was deficient much longer but do not have the labs to prove it.

In 2021 she had skin biopsies that confirmed a diagnosis of SEVERE SMALL FIBER NEUROPATHY. I remember the doctor saying “I can’t believe you’re actually walking around it’s so bad.” This illness can look a lot like ALS or MS but there aren’t any known treatments like there are for those illnesses.

The past 3 years have been an adventure of researching and trying many different well researched protocols to help. During this process, she has talked with people all over the world suffering and has helped so many of them by sharing her trials and errors of treatments. She has talked with many amazing doctors and researchers who have helped her find supplements to improve her quality of life.

We continue learning and experimenting with all options hoping to get her feeling better. Research is ongoing around the world as there has been a significant increase in Small Fiber Neuropathy post covid and covid vaccinations.

Most recently in December 2022, due to ongoing weakness, balance issues and blurry vision (pretty much blind in right eye) from a cataract, my mom fell and injured her eye. Unfortunately, NONE of her current treatments are covered under insurance despite her doctors’ orders and attempting many ways.

This is not something we (or she) ever thought we would do, but the mounting debt from these expenses continues to grow. She is legally disabled and living on a fixed income. Watching our mother suffer from chronic pain almost every day is heartbreaking. What is even more heartbreaking is knowing that she sometimes cuts back on supplements due to the cost and financial burden. She has gone into significant debt purchasing medications and supplements that help her “feel alive!” The anti-inflammatory neurological protocol she is on requires a delicate balance of MANY supplements and electrolytes. Of course, NONE of these things are covered by insurance.

She is surviving because of supplements that her body needs and we are asking if you can give anything towards offsetting the costs of her treatments we would be forever grateful. My mom was always the creator and organizer of fundraising for others, and now we hope you can find it in your heart to give back to her.

Any amount that can help ease her financial burden is tremendously appreciated. If you know Jane, you know that she suffers in silence and would never ask for help from anyone, so we must be her voice now and reach out beyond our comfort zone.

She is a very empathetic person, always reaching out to help and offer support to others. It is time she focuses her energy on her own survival, for as long as God gives her. We need her here for as long as we can, for us and our children. She is deeply loved and we would do anything to help relieve some of the stress this has all caused her. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME READING THIS AND ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE.