Fundraiser to Support Cindy Daigle

Hi I'm Julie, Cindy Daigle's mom...

 

With the help of Cindy's sisters, I have created this fundraiser to raise funds that will go directly to Cindy to cover some of the new and growing expenses associated with adjusting to her recently developed disability.

 

Many of you may already be aware that our beloved Cindy is now facing a Dysautonomia called POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia), onset by a COVID infection this past winter. Due to this condition, Cindy is struggling with her cognitive functions, eye sight, body temperature control, digestion, tremors, joint and muscle pain, rapid heart rate, circulation, fatigue, dizziness and fainting. She can no longer drive and has had to take medical leave from teaching. Cindy has to spend a majority of her day in a reclined position since standing for longer than about ten minutes will cause her to lose blood flow to her brain and faint.

 

To read more about this condition: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-pots

Also...please scroll down to read Cindy's story in her own words.

 

This condition has impacted her life and family, and Cindy is trying her best to handle and navigate all the changes. Her condition has required her to take medical leave from her teaching career and has taken away her ability to drive. Because Cindy can’t be up on her feet for long, she is missing fun times with her children and husband. Every day is a struggle for her to try to manage her symptoms, home, and family. Cindy and her family struggle to find transportation to doctor appointments, getting the children to school and other errands.

 

Asking for help doesn’t come naturally for our Cindy who tends to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders and often takes on more than one person should. Prior to her condition, Cindy rarely had a moments rest.  She participated in triathlons, half marathons and loved to cycle.  She was a dedicated teacher who worked hard to be there for all of her students.  Cindy is no quitter!

 

Many of us have been wondering what we could do to help and show Cindy how much we care. For those of us with limited time, or are limited by distance, her family has set up this GoFundMe, as an option for you to help.

 

Donations to this GoFundMe will do so much for Cindy and her family. With their reduced income and the need to rely on taxis, manage a home and family, pay medical bills and purchase additional medical equipment, this family is financially stressed. Any little bit you can share here will help reduce that stress and let Cindy focus on herself and her family.

 

It's hard to always know how to show how much you care, so if you’ve been looking for just the right way to show your support and care for Cindy, we hope you’ll consider donating today. If you can’t donate cold hard cash…that’s o.k. We also would take donations in the form of phone calls, texts, house visits, snail mail, memes, good and bad homemade art projects, and anything else your heart dreams up!

 

In closing…her family wishes to give thanks to all who love and care for our beloved Cindy. Our combined hands will provide a spirit of joy and encouragement and strength for Cindy to lean on through friends and family,

 

Love,

Cindy’s Family

 

 

 

Cindy Daigle’s Story...

 

This morning when I woke up I realized that my morning medicine was too far away for me to reach from bed.  I pulled myself up and put my feet over to the side of the bed, instantly feeling the electric shocks in my feet and my hands and arms start to shake.  Shaking, I managed to open the medicine that will help me walk in a straight line and take it.  The medicine will take 30 minutes to kick in, but I can't wait that long to help get the girls ready for school.  Clinging to the walls I make it to the bathroom.  It feels like I'm on a boat when I walk in the mornings.  The girls are waking up and getting out of bed.  I sit cross legged on the floor between both rooms so I can remind my oldest to get dressed while getting my youngest in her clothes.  I sit on the floor because standing all my blood pools into my arms and legs, turning them purple.  Blood drops out of my brain depriving it of oxygen and I pass out within 5-10 minutes.  I sit cross legged because if I let my legs relax, blood flow to my brain will be enough to keep me conscious, but not enough for me to be able to think and speak.  I attempt to convince my youngest to dress herself to no avail.  She knows that this is one of the few things that mommy can still do with her.  Soon the girls leave for school with dad.  I dream that someday I'll be able to take them to school, but realize that it is unlikely.  While insurance will cover most of the cost of a wheelchair, they will not cover the $7,000 device necessary to push a wheelchair up the hill to the girls' school.

 

For the most part, I look normal, especially if I’m wearing a smile, (which I do often). My body is far from normal through. My smile detracts from my purple arms and legs, the pupils that are randomly different sizes, blurring my vision, and the fragmented speech.  Each day I struggle to do simple tasks such as getting out of bed, getting my two young children up and ready for school, showering, getting down the stairs to the kitchen to feed myself, and trying to keep the house from being a complete mess.  On a good day I can hold a conversation and remember all my words.  I can do laundry and dishes.  I can play on the floor or in bed with the kids.  I live for those good days when they happen.  Even on bad days I do something to make me happy.  Today was rough, but I decided to paint my toenails purple, because if they are going to be purple anyway, why not make them a prettier purple?  It's important for the girls to see me happy.  I have to show them that no matter what life throws at you, happiness and peace can be found.

 

There is no cure for Autonomic Dysfunction and POTS, but there are treatments available to help keep some symptoms under control.  My hope is that given all of the research into long COVID conditions, more breakthroughs will be made.  Until that time, I will continue to show  my kids and everyone else that I'm around that even with a disabling condition, I can still have fun, laugh and participate in life even if it looks a little different.

I would like to thank all of the family and friends who have already reached out to help us.  A special thanks to my mom and sisters for putting together this GoFundMe.  I have been so moved by the cards, letters, text messages, food donations, gift cards, phone calls, and rides.  Thank you to those of you who have come out here to help us.  It means the world to us that in our time of need, our family and friends will rally around us to hold us up.

 

Love, Cindy