Help Get Steph Home: Support for Chronic Illness

I’m Kat and I’m asking for your help.

Our friend, Stephanie, is in need of our support.

From battling asthma, allergies, and frequent infections since childhood to surviving a traumatic car accident in 2005 and enduring a troubled pregnancy resulting in her son's premature birth and subsequent surgeries, Stephanie's journey has been filled with resilience and perseverance. Post-pregnancy, she has faced a myriad of debilitating symptoms.

Stephanie's body changed significantly during pregnancy, manifesting numerous symptoms, yet her primary focus remained on her son's health.

He was born nearly three weeks before the due date, with placental premature rupture of membranes. Her son spent time in the NICU, facing birth defects that required him to undergo surgery. He is four now and has undergone as many surgeries. Three of these surgeries had to be performed out of state, in Colorado.

Steph started noticing adrenaline surges with a rapid heart rate and she struggled to stand or lie completely flat without symptoms. When monitoring her blood pressure at home she found that it drops when stressed instead of increasing. Stephanie also deals with temperature deregulation, extremity color changes, trouble breathing, nausea, dizziness, unsteadiness, headaches, tinnitus, vision changes, frequent ear and sinus infections, and joint pain.

It wasn’t until Stephanie started falling down frequently that she embarked on the medical journey that led to a diagnosis, and then another, and then another.

Stephanie's medical journey has been fraught with numerous challenges, including Heterozygous Factor V Leiden, Sleep Apnea, PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression, among others. From facing Shingles and brain fog to grappling with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome with Tenascin-X deficiency, TMJ pain, and Aphasia, Stephanie has navigated a complex array of health issues. With additional diagnoses of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), her journey has been arduous.

Stephanie's journey is further complicated by her need for environmental modifications, such as hand railings, a walker, and ankle braces. Her condition often leaves her unable to perform everyday tasks, work, or even drive herself during symptomatic days, which occur frequently. With a requirement for in-home care assistance and support for daily living activities, when she is alone, at only 42, Stephanie's health challenges are profound. Additionally, she has faced the financial strain of multiple relocations since 2018, exacerbated by mounting medical bills and the inability to work.

To compound matters, her husband lost his job of 6 years, resulting in the loss of all benefits and insurance. After moving to Rio Rancho for a more affordable living situation, Stephanie and her husband discovered undisclosed mold and rodent issues in their new home. It was discovered that in these months, their home had been making the family ill as well as greatly exacerbating the strain on Steph’s already taxed body. It made everything worse, and as you can imagine, was devastating.

The family then had to evacuate her home for remediation, with one quote alone amounting to almost $12,000. She currently has a total of 5 companies working on the home to make it safe again, and the full extent of the costs from each is still unknown.

Stephanie’s husband did find a new job, but it has a two hour commute, which puts a great strain on everyone, and doesn’t pay enough for medical bills and home repairs.

Compounded by the fact that Steph’s chronic illnesses are incurable and lifelong, Stephanie faces significant financial and health challenges.

Your contribution can help get Steph’s family home, and support her and her family, in her medical journey towards a better quality of life.

Thank you

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