Help Joy Get Stem Cell Treatment!
Donation protected
URGENT - Joy has stage 2 progressive avascular necrosis, she's in a lot of pain, and needs stem cell therapy right away.
Please help our dear friend Joy Herrera pay for stem cell therapy to stop and repair the damage to her hips from stage 2 Avascular Necrosis and related Ménière's Disease medical expenses.
Three years ago at the age of 28, Joy began having vertigo, loss of hearing and tinnitus, which turned out to be Ménière's Disease. After many visits to the doctor, Joy's vertigo got worse and she woke up one morning to find that her hearing in her right ear was almost completely gone. Joy's doctor prescribed her an extremely heavy dose of steroids to combat the assumed swelling in Joy's inner-ear, but the steroids didn't work and Joy suffered severe and permanent hearing damage. A hearing aid specific for Ménière's sufferers that would allow Joy to hear out of her right ear again would cost around $7k, far out of Joy's budget, and so she remains partially deaf.
Over the past few years since taking steroids for Ménière's Disease, Joy has slowly noticed growing pain in her hips. Recently, Joy started loosing feeling in her toes, and went to the doctor to figure out what was wrong. Joy's MRI results showed that the blood had stopped flowing to her femoral heads. This caused lesions to form and painfully deteriorate the bone structure in her hips. Her doctor confirmed that Joy has Avascular Necrosis, a terrible and progressive disease which causes the bones to decay due to lack of blood flow, which inevitably would affect her ability to walk. Avascular Necrosis is known to be caused by heavy steroid medication. Joy was not informed by her doctor of this possible side effect of the medication she was on while trying to get her hearing back.
Joy with her fiance Brian on a skiing trip in Steamboat Springs, CO
We are raising money so Joy can swiftly receive stem cell therapy while she is still in the window of stage 2 of Avascular Necrosis. Stage 3 is when the femoral heads collapse and she would then need emergency double hip replacement surgery. On the other hand, stem cell treatment is the only treatment form that studies have shown would regenerate the bones and resolve Avascular Necrosis. This treatment would allow Joy to be active and enjoy life to the fullest again.
During this time of emergency health issues, Joy is also enrolled in grad school full time to become a marriage and family therapist specializing in supporting children. Joy is truly the most loving, compassionate and supportive friend anyone could ask for. We are hoping that all her family, friends, and angels give what they can. Joy is incredibly grateful to everyone for any amount that feels comfortable to support her through these difficult times. Thank you so much!
Please help our dear friend Joy Herrera pay for stem cell therapy to stop and repair the damage to her hips from stage 2 Avascular Necrosis and related Ménière's Disease medical expenses.
Three years ago at the age of 28, Joy began having vertigo, loss of hearing and tinnitus, which turned out to be Ménière's Disease. After many visits to the doctor, Joy's vertigo got worse and she woke up one morning to find that her hearing in her right ear was almost completely gone. Joy's doctor prescribed her an extremely heavy dose of steroids to combat the assumed swelling in Joy's inner-ear, but the steroids didn't work and Joy suffered severe and permanent hearing damage. A hearing aid specific for Ménière's sufferers that would allow Joy to hear out of her right ear again would cost around $7k, far out of Joy's budget, and so she remains partially deaf.
Over the past few years since taking steroids for Ménière's Disease, Joy has slowly noticed growing pain in her hips. Recently, Joy started loosing feeling in her toes, and went to the doctor to figure out what was wrong. Joy's MRI results showed that the blood had stopped flowing to her femoral heads. This caused lesions to form and painfully deteriorate the bone structure in her hips. Her doctor confirmed that Joy has Avascular Necrosis, a terrible and progressive disease which causes the bones to decay due to lack of blood flow, which inevitably would affect her ability to walk. Avascular Necrosis is known to be caused by heavy steroid medication. Joy was not informed by her doctor of this possible side effect of the medication she was on while trying to get her hearing back.
Joy with her fiance Brian on a skiing trip in Steamboat Springs, COWe are raising money so Joy can swiftly receive stem cell therapy while she is still in the window of stage 2 of Avascular Necrosis. Stage 3 is when the femoral heads collapse and she would then need emergency double hip replacement surgery. On the other hand, stem cell treatment is the only treatment form that studies have shown would regenerate the bones and resolve Avascular Necrosis. This treatment would allow Joy to be active and enjoy life to the fullest again.
During this time of emergency health issues, Joy is also enrolled in grad school full time to become a marriage and family therapist specializing in supporting children. Joy is truly the most loving, compassionate and supportive friend anyone could ask for. We are hoping that all her family, friends, and angels give what they can. Joy is incredibly grateful to everyone for any amount that feels comfortable to support her through these difficult times. Thank you so much!
Fundraising team: Eric and Ericka (3)
Eric Dubs
Organizer
Bend, OR
Joy Herrera
Beneficiary
Joy Herrera
Team member
Jennifer McCormick
Team member