Felicia’s Brain Surgery Rehabilitation & Recovery

Hi, we are Felicia's and Timothy's Parents, Mary and John. Our daughter's brain nerve condition has forever changed her and our entire family's lives. For the past 12 years, she has been in and out of the Hospital, one surgery after another, trying to heal her brain nerve damage. As retirees, we have been blessed to be there for our daughter and show her love through out this journey, but procedure after procedure has decimated our family's ability to provide for her. We live in the world's most advanced country but can't get universal access to health care and therefore her insurance has only covered a portion of her medical journey. Many Neurosurgeons believe her condition, which is called Trigeminal Neuralgia, causes the most intense nerve pain a human can endure. It has been devastating to watch Doctor after Doctor try to treat her with pain-reducing medications and invasive brain surgery. Her most recent Brain Surgery offers the greatest hope for her recovery. We are praying and feel extremely hopeful that with your support, she will make a near-full recovery and be able to rebuild her life and launch a new career conducive for someone with her condition. We are hopeful that this recent brain surgery will be the final procedure that will help Felicia and all of us turn the page and return to our normal lives. We are asking for support in the following 3 areas:

1. Rehabilitation, Recovery & Medical Shortfalls: $39,000 Rehabilitation Post Surgery- Felicia will require rehabilitation and physical and other mental development training, which her insurance doesn’t cover. Rehab includes Braining Training Exercises, holistic therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, TMJ treatment and medical coverage short fall.

2. Housing adjustments: $14,000 Felicia was forced to sell her home at a loss due to her inability to sustain her career and has to make adjustments to a smaller home for handicap adjustments such as ramps and rails for her home.

3. Re-Education: $17,000 Felicia will be required to rebuild her life and start a new career outside of her management position in the banking call centre sector. She has identified 3 career options where she will be able to function; all are in the social services sectors, helping the elderly. Once her brain has healed from this most recent brain surgery, she will be able to take the online courses to give herself a new professional life.

Here is her story in her own words:

Hello, my name is Felicia. I am married with two Children and Two Grandchildren and 12 years ago, a brain nerve that connects my brain and facial movement was damaged and has altered my life forever. The brain nerve damage is called ( Trigeminal Neuralgia click the link to read more), and the damage has placed mental, physical and financial strain on my entire family and me. Those who have the condition around the world are on high suicide alert due to the extreme pain, which can best be described as feeling like someone is taking a butcher knife and stabbing you in the face. The nerve leads from the brain to the face and regulates face movement to your cheeks, smile, teeth and more. My condition was triggered 12 years ago by a regular dental visit where an ageing dentist triggered the nerve with an invasive procedure and for years we tried to sue and fight but to no avail and since turned our focus on healing the nerve condition and trying to make me healthy again. I've been fortunate to have good insurance but the extent of the surgeries, loss of income due to my inability to work, has taken all my savings and placed a strain on my entire family. I'm really grateful for the love and support from my family and friends. I have a quality group of friends and former colleagues who have tried to be there for me- I have always felt blessed and have always been a praying woman. Even though smiling hurts, I still try to smile through the pain because smiling has always been the foundation of my identity.

The facial attacks that I experience due to my condition may begin mild and short, but grows progressively worse under conditions of stress and other strenuous exposure and this is the reason I’m unable to work in the job in the banking sector that I loved so much. I had a 20 year thriving career where I began as a call center agent and grew through the management ranks to lead teams and specialize in client services. . Although trigeminal neuralgia cannot always be cured, there are treatments available to alleviate the debilitating pain. My most recent surgery required neurosurgeons to open up my skull, go into my brain, separate the Trigeminal nerve from arteries and place a sponge between them to reduce the stabbing signals that become the extreme pain signals.

After all that I have loss, including a home that I was forced to sell at a loss and even after all the debt that has piled up because of medical bills and insurance short falls, I have not lost my faith. I've experienced miracle after miracle and have refused to take my life like so many others with my condition. I love and appreciate any support and would welcome notes of encouragement and prayers as much as financial support.

Here is a history of my medical procedures:

Diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia June 9, 2011 to Brain Surgery August 2022

A. KETAMINE INFUSION JOURNEY (May 2012 to December 2012)

Dr Kaprual in Winston Salem NC treaded brain nerve with Phenopalatine Ganglion to block nerve pain May 14, 2012

Dr Kaprual advanced the procedure to Ketamine infusions procedure on June 18 2012

Dr Kaprual - August 6, 2012 2nd part of Ketamine Infusion

Dr Kaprual- August 20, 2012 3rd part of ketamine infusion

Dr Kaprual- August 30th was 4th and last ketamine

Dr Kaprual was in practice 30 years and said I had a worse case of Trigeminal neuralgia and had to refer me to another neurologist since their practice had done all they could do. Referred me on September 11th to neurologist named Dr. Hagen in Kernersville NC Dr Hagen-started pain management program.

removed me from 22 pills to 6 pills to find out which medicines were working for my trigeminal neuralgia

Dr Christine Hagen - Transnasal sphenopalentine Nerve block 12-13-2012

B. INVASIVE PROCEDURES November 2011 to August 2022

1) Mri completed Dr Chan and Dr Ellis

November 2011 Wake Forest Baptist

2) Gamma knife November 17th 2011 ----Wake Forest Baptist NC

3) May 14th 2012 ——Phenopalatine Ganglion block of nerve ----Dr Kaprual pain Clinic 145 kimel park Dr Winston Salem NC

4) June 18th 2012 ——ketamine infusion Dr. Kaprual pain Clinic 145 kimel park Dr Winston Salem NC

5) August 6 2012 ——ketamine infusion Dr Kaprual.

pain Clinic 145 kimel park Dr Winston Salem NC

6) September 20 2012 ——ketamine infusion Dr Kaprual- pain Clinic 145 kimel park Dr Winston Salem NC

7) October 24 2012— injections face, head, neck, back..... Referred to Dr Christine Haden -Kernersville NC 27284

8) November 13 2012 - phenopalatine nerve block . Dr Christine Haden -Kernersville NC 27284

9) Christine Hagen - gamma knife September 10,2013

10) -Christine Hagen - phenopalatine nerve block October 18,2014

11) Dr. Christine Hagen - Spg block

12) Dr Christine Hagen - Phenopalatine Ganglion block of nerves December 2014

13) December 2016 Guilford Neurologist Dr Amy Guilford

14) On April 13 2020——home sleep apnea test Greensboro NC Guilford Neurologist! 15) On 10/21/2020 ——— Dr Amy Guilford put me on Gabapentin 100 mg medicine

16) On November 10 2020 Dr Collins Duke Neurologist Durham NC up meds Gabapentin 300 mg

17) February 2021 surgeon Dr Lad Ablasion nerve block

18) Brain Surgery MVD for Trigeminal neuralgia 8/12/2022

With Dr. Ali Zomorodi Cerebrovascular... surgery where skull bone is removed to address damaged brain nerve. With Dr. Ali Zomorodi Endovascular/Cerebrovascular 8/12/2022

Thanks so much for your prayers and support!