Funding to support Katrina Ehl

Katrina Ehl has been in the hospital since October 15th 2020 with what we thought was going to be a quick trip, ended up being a lot longer than expected. She at first was diagnosed with GBS (Guillian Barre Syndrome). GBS attacked mom’s nervous system slowly attacking her body causing her to loose feeling in her whole body basically paralyzing her. Katrina has gone through struggles of not being able to feel her feet, not be able to laugh and smile, not feel her hands and be in severe pain. She can’t take care of herself,  can’t answer a phone, text, or even open food to try to eat. Katrina explains the pain as if pins and needles keep poking at her hands, feet, and body. She can’t sit up on her own, can’t walk, and can’t even close her eyes at night to get a full nights rest. Through countless treatments of five rounds of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) that contains healthy antibodies she slowly has been able to get a small smile back on her face. However after several treatments and test it was determined that her acute GBS is now a more severe type of condition called Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIPD). This week she was diagnosed with a more chronic diagnosis and condition. She is slowly making some progress but after being diagnosed with CIPD this is a set back. Katrina is at Spectrum Rehabilitation Hospital where she receives therapy. 1 hour of Physical therapy, 1 hour of Occupational therapy, and 1 hour of Speech therapy to help her learn to walk, talk and function again. Her release date is inconclusive at this time but we are hopeful for a February or March 2021 timeframe as it just depends on her next steps, her body, and looking into other treatments.

Katrina Ehl, is a Librarian at Woodview Elementary in Belding, Michigan for the better part of 15 years. Many of you know her, have seen her and have crossed paths with her children Stephanie, Samantha, and Brittany Ehl, Brian and Sunshine Young.

During this time, her medical bills have started added up and she is no longer receiving pay from her current job. She did have 40 sick days saved but has been used up during this time of being in the hospital. Katrina had a claim into Disability however it does not look at GBS as a long term disability and her disability claim was denied. She currently has no idea how long she will be in the rehab hospital but we have heard it can take up to 6 months to a year to recover from GBS/ CIPD which puts her completely out of work due to her condition. This has financially taken a big toll on our dad who is taking care of all her medical and household bills. Katrina does have insurance however she has a big deductible for this year and into next year. We are asking for any help from our friends and family to relieve some of this additional stress and pressure on her and our dad. Any amount of donation is appreciated at this time to relieve some financial burden. TOGETHER WE ARE POWERFUL!

***We will continue to update everyone on Facebook and through this page as well. Currently right now we are looking at new treatments to help support her new diagnosis of CIPD.