Getting Hope Back On Her Feet

On August 2, a day after returning from 6 months of non profit work abroad in Guatemala, Hope tested positive for COVID. While her case was initially considered mild, she still required two trips to the ER, one on day 3 for trouble breathing and a second on day 6 for dehydration. Both times she described a tingling & numbness that she was feeling in her fingers, toes and teeth. The doctors felt it was probably just a symptom of COVID and sent her home with a pulse oximeter to monitor her oxygen levels & an anti nausea medication to help keep fluids down. Over the next 3 days her mobility declined to the point that she needed help to sit up, roll to her side, stand and walk. Nine days after first testing positive it was apparent she was rapidly losing feeling in her arms and legs so she went back to the ER and was admitted to the Neurology floor at Northwestern hospital in Chicago. After a CT scan, lumbar puncture, and a multitude of additional testing the doctors concluded she likely had developed AIDP, a form of Guillain Barre Syndrome, a rare complication following viral or bacterial infections where the immune system attacks the nervous system causing damage to the myelin sheath (the coating around our nerves) and the nerves themselves. This is what has left Hope unable to walk and with limited movement in her arms. Many people with AIDP/Guillain Barre do recover and regain movement, feeling, and the ability to be mobile and independent but the doctors have said this could take weeks, months or more rarely, years.

Hope has already been hospitalized for 9 days and her doctors have said she will need intensive inpatient rehab post hospitalization and additional help, equipment & accommodations once home so we know her medical bills will be significant even with insurance. As some of you know, Hope works as a trauma therapist so she has been unable to see clients for the last 3 weeks and will likely be out of work for at least the next 2 months. The goal of this GoFundMe is to alleviate some of the financial stress from medical bills and missing work so she can focus on healing.

Hope is still Hope, her dark sense of humor and wise cracks have made her a fan favorite with her nurses and doctors. They feel because of her age and active lifestyle she has a good chance at recovery but continue to remind her patience will be key. Thanks so much in advance for any help you can give or any sharing you can do. My goal is to continue to post updates here on her progress.

-Colleen