Fighting NMO: Support Katelyn's Trip to Mayo
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On May 19th, Katelyn Egetimeier, age 19, was diagnosed with a rare condition called Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system primarily affecting the optic nerves and spinal cord.
About Neuromyelitis Optica
Also known as Devic’s Disease, NMO attacks healthy cells in the body, leading to optic neuritis, which causes pain in the eye and blindness. Individuals diagnosed with NMO also develop transverse myelitis, which causes numbness, weakness or paralysis of the arms and legs in addition to other symptoms. There is no cure for NMO, but there are therapies to treat an attack while it is happening as well as treatments to reduce symptoms and to prevent relapses. The relapses are unpredictable, with "attacks" occurring months or years apart. The result of each attack damages new areas of the central nervous system.
Katelyn’s Story
Leading up to this, Katelyn had experienced many bizarre symptoms including weird sensations in her leg in the fall, unexplained fainting in late December, and on May 9th, sudden loss of vision in her left eye. Though some vision has returned after a series of intravenous steroid treatments, she is unable to see details and cannot read using her left eye.
Why Mayo?
Katelyn is consulting with a local neurologist, but with such a rare disease, and treatment and prevention being the key to avoiding blindness and paralysis, we want to coordinate those efforts with doctors who are nationally recognized experts in this disease. A neurologist at Mayo is able to see Katelyn on June 2nd, but Mayo is seeking a pre-service deposit of $5000. We will also need lodging and food for the 5-7 day trip. We hope that you will support Katelyn as we begin this journey. Every little bit helps. Thank you.
About Neuromyelitis Optica
Also known as Devic’s Disease, NMO attacks healthy cells in the body, leading to optic neuritis, which causes pain in the eye and blindness. Individuals diagnosed with NMO also develop transverse myelitis, which causes numbness, weakness or paralysis of the arms and legs in addition to other symptoms. There is no cure for NMO, but there are therapies to treat an attack while it is happening as well as treatments to reduce symptoms and to prevent relapses. The relapses are unpredictable, with "attacks" occurring months or years apart. The result of each attack damages new areas of the central nervous system.
Katelyn’s Story
Leading up to this, Katelyn had experienced many bizarre symptoms including weird sensations in her leg in the fall, unexplained fainting in late December, and on May 9th, sudden loss of vision in her left eye. Though some vision has returned after a series of intravenous steroid treatments, she is unable to see details and cannot read using her left eye.
Why Mayo?
Katelyn is consulting with a local neurologist, but with such a rare disease, and treatment and prevention being the key to avoiding blindness and paralysis, we want to coordinate those efforts with doctors who are nationally recognized experts in this disease. A neurologist at Mayo is able to see Katelyn on June 2nd, but Mayo is seeking a pre-service deposit of $5000. We will also need lodging and food for the 5-7 day trip. We hope that you will support Katelyn as we begin this journey. Every little bit helps. Thank you.
Organizer
Katelyn Egetimeier
Organizer
Wheaton, IL