A Healthy Home for Kenze
Donation protected
My name is Kenze Messman. I am a gymnast, a cheerleader, a swimmer, and I enjoy hanging out with all my friends at school.
That used to be my life anyway until June of 2015 when I had an allergic reaction to something unknown. After what seemed to be a million visits to doctors, I was diagnosed with a very rare condition called EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome), Mast Cell Disease, and POTS syndrome (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). This diagnosis changed my life.
To explain in brief, Mast Cell Disease, causes me to have severe allergic reactions to just about everything. I have spent a lot of time in the hospitals and ER’s since September of 2015. I am currently taking a long list of antihistamines and the Mast Cell Disease has caused me to have neurologic twitching and seizure-like episodes. I'm no longer able to attend school or any of my after school sports because the risk for a reaction is too great. I continually hope and pray that I will be able to go to school and cheer again without fear of an ambulance ride to take me away. I just want to be a typical teenage girl.
Living in a "bubble" is an absolute necessity. My safest place is my home with my service dog Makki. After time away from the home for a doctor's appointment, I usually feel the effects of something setting off an allergic reaction, or a POTS episode. My mother Angie and my stepfather have taken the utmost precautions to help me stay safe in my home, everything from the air vents getting cleaned constantly to hypoallergenic products. However, new flooring has not been an option for my family, we just haven't had any extra money to spend $15,000 on new floors. We have carpet in my bedroom and our living room which causes reactions due to the allergens that get trapped there. Also, my condition can cause presyncope episodes or severe pain and I have to use my wheelchair and walker to prevent myself from falling but I can't maneuver around the carpets.
Recently, Chive Charities helped me with some essential items I needed for my home and we were truly grateful to receive those and items like my new bed have made my life at home much more comfortable and safe. However, little did we know that John had a surprise visit in store for us...he knew we may not be telling him everything we needed, and he was right.
During John's visit, he noticed the condition of the floors and he said he knew just the community who would help us raise the $15,000 we need to replace them, Chive Nation. We are so extremely grateful for Chive Charities and the generosity of Chive Nation and every donation that is made will bring me closer to living a semi-normal life. I love being a part of the Chive Charities family and I hope one day I can give back because this opportunity has truly given me a chance!
Thank you all so much!!
KCCO,
Kenze
To learn more about how Chive Charities donors are changing lives like Kenze’s every day, visit: www.chivecharities.org/
That used to be my life anyway until June of 2015 when I had an allergic reaction to something unknown. After what seemed to be a million visits to doctors, I was diagnosed with a very rare condition called EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome), Mast Cell Disease, and POTS syndrome (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). This diagnosis changed my life.
To explain in brief, Mast Cell Disease, causes me to have severe allergic reactions to just about everything. I have spent a lot of time in the hospitals and ER’s since September of 2015. I am currently taking a long list of antihistamines and the Mast Cell Disease has caused me to have neurologic twitching and seizure-like episodes. I'm no longer able to attend school or any of my after school sports because the risk for a reaction is too great. I continually hope and pray that I will be able to go to school and cheer again without fear of an ambulance ride to take me away. I just want to be a typical teenage girl.
Living in a "bubble" is an absolute necessity. My safest place is my home with my service dog Makki. After time away from the home for a doctor's appointment, I usually feel the effects of something setting off an allergic reaction, or a POTS episode. My mother Angie and my stepfather have taken the utmost precautions to help me stay safe in my home, everything from the air vents getting cleaned constantly to hypoallergenic products. However, new flooring has not been an option for my family, we just haven't had any extra money to spend $15,000 on new floors. We have carpet in my bedroom and our living room which causes reactions due to the allergens that get trapped there. Also, my condition can cause presyncope episodes or severe pain and I have to use my wheelchair and walker to prevent myself from falling but I can't maneuver around the carpets.
Recently, Chive Charities helped me with some essential items I needed for my home and we were truly grateful to receive those and items like my new bed have made my life at home much more comfortable and safe. However, little did we know that John had a surprise visit in store for us...he knew we may not be telling him everything we needed, and he was right.
During John's visit, he noticed the condition of the floors and he said he knew just the community who would help us raise the $15,000 we need to replace them, Chive Nation. We are so extremely grateful for Chive Charities and the generosity of Chive Nation and every donation that is made will bring me closer to living a semi-normal life. I love being a part of the Chive Charities family and I hope one day I can give back because this opportunity has truly given me a chance!
Thank you all so much!!
KCCO,
Kenze
To learn more about how Chive Charities donors are changing lives like Kenze’s every day, visit: www.chivecharities.org/
Organizer
Angie Parde
Organizer
Lincoln, NE