Mercado Family Medical Fund

On October 30th, 2018 Michelle Mercado was admitted to Riverbend, Peace Health Medical center in Eugene, OR one day before her 37th birthday. After many painful tests a team of specialists have diagnosed her with a very rare, rapidly progressing neurological disease that causes constant full body clonic- dystonia (stiff person syndrome a rare disease is what describes her condition best) she is still waiting on the genetic and autoimmune cerebral spinal fluid test to come back in the up coming weeks) dysphasia both receptive and expressive along with lupus a painful autoimmune disease that she has been battling for quite some time. She currently has been fighting the symptoms to become stable with the help of speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and respiratory therapist; which will be continuing care that is required once she returns home. Unfortunately, life for her family and her will NEVER be the same as she now requires not only a wheelchair to hold her head in a stable position, but many other therapeutic devices to help slow the progressing disease and ease her pain. Once she is strong enough they are recommending she will be transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation center that only accepts 14 people with the rarest conditions to work towards a goal of returning home to her 7 year old daughter and loving husband. Unfortunately, in order for Michelle to return home the rehabilitation center requires that her home be handicap accessible, her family needs a van to transport her and a 24 hour care giver must be present. She is going to need not only be taken to continued therapy appointments, but also driven to her specialist which are located in Eugene and Medford. The goal of this fund is to provide Michelle’s family with assistance to be able to bring Michelle home. This has been not only devastating not knowing  how long she has, but also the immense stress on her family. Michelle, Michael, Mya and her parents James and Beth Thibodeau are asking for continued prayers for all of them through this very difficult time. God bless!

Updates on Michelle’s condition will continue to be posted and to spread awareness of this horrible disease.