Help Alyssa Recover from Life-Saving Surgeries

Over the last four and a half years, Alyssa has had a lot of life-changing moments: graduating high school, marrying her husband, Payton, bringing their three daughters into the world, and moving across the country. The biggest life change is the one we are sharing with you all today - her diagnosis and battle with Ulcerative Colitis.

Alyssa has fought this battle mostly silently and just kept moving forward, one foot in front of the other. After failing every classification of drug available for UC, including chemotherapy, she is left with her last option: Surgery. The doctors have told Alyssa without the series of surgeries she is undergoing, her life expectancy would be five years at most. Alyssa has never been one to depend on others to take care of her. She has not wanted to burden others with ever having to worry about her.

Alyssa had her first surgery on October 29th. During that surgery they removed her entire colon and did the ileostomy. Unfortunately they were unable to remove her uterus as planned as they did not believe her body healthy enough to handle it. During the second (and hopefully last) surgery they will be removing the remainder of her large intestine and her uterus. Her surgeon informed her yesterday that they will be moving her surgery up a month as she is experiencing some symptoms that are not ideal and that the recovery for the second surgery will be longer and more intense.

She has come to a place where she simply needs the help now. These life-altering surgeries are requiring months of recuperation. Alyssa worked full-time to help provide for their family because a military income alone is just not enough to raise a family. She will not be able to work for approximately six months. Not only have they lost Alyssa’s income, her medical expenses are rising significantly. She will require medical supplies for the rest of her life to care for her stoma. Alyssa and Payton also have increased travel expenses during this time as well. Alyssa has filed for short term disability but will not hear back about that until sometime after her second surgery. While they have received almost $1,000 in direct donations from family and friends and filed for disability to cover part of her income loss, there is still a large amount of money we need to raise for her recovery expenses. We truly appreciate any and all help!