Help Sarah fund treatment

We are looking for $12,000 to help with medical costs, and our upcoming visits to a new gastroenterologist.

Prior to April, 2017, Sarah was a thriving young woman. She loved playing softball, volunteering at church, walking her sweet dog, and going out with friends.

Then, on April 21, 2017, all that changed. Sarah had her gallbladder surgically removed. Her gallbladder was full of stones, and many times its normal size. In order to remove it, it was wrapped in a bag and pulled out. We believe, although this has not yet been confirmed, that during the surgery, her Vagus nerve was either severely damaged or severed.

Within 2 days, she was experiencing excruciating pain in her chest and abdomen and was rushed to emergency. They said it was costochondritis, inflammation from the surgery. They said it would go away, might take a few weeks, but would be helped with ibuprofen.

For FOUR YEARS, Sarah has continued to have pain, severe swelling in the abdomen, and an inability to keep food (and many times even water) down without vomiting.

We've been referred to, and seen by multiple doctors. She's had a heart workup, an upper and lower endoscopy (twice), a colonoscopy, a gastric emptying study, small bowel follow through, and tried multiple medications without relief.

In March of 2021, Sarah was in pain and oh so sick; dehydrated with constant vomiting. We decided it was time to take her to the emergency room yet again. Long story short, they did not want to help her, even though she could not keep even a tablespoon of water down without vomiting. They wanted to send us home. We refused to go without a review of her medical record. The hospitalist reluctantly agreed to review it. It was at this time, we all learned her current gastroenterologist had diagnosed her with Gastroparesis .

There is NO cure for Gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis is a disease in which the stomach cannot empty itself of food in a normal fashion. Symptoms include heartburn, nausea, vomiting, bloating, pain, brain fog, weight loss or weight gain, anxiety and depression. Treatments include medications to increase movement and decrease pain. There are also multiple surgical options. No one treatment works for every person with gastroparesis.

Her Primary Care Physician says the treatment path is the responsibility of the GI doctor. Her gastroenterologist (the second one) says he does not know how to help her, nor has he offered a referral to someone who can. We are left trying to find doctors, navigate this disease and find potential treatments on our own.

Meanwhile, she is losing weight (100+ lbs), she's in pain constantly, and the medical bills keep piling up. Between all the visits, tests, multiple medications, hospital ER visits, and a recent week spent IN the hospital, she has amassed over $10,000 in medical bills.

We will be seeing a new gastroenterologist in Peoria, Illinois, where she will have to redo all the tests done by her current gastroenterologist. There are multiple potential treatment options, but none are guaranteed to diminish her symptoms. The upcoming appointment will be a restarting point in the long journey for a new trial and error treatment plan.

Please consider donating to help Sarah. If you cannot donate, please share with others, and pray for our journey.

Much love,

Laura (mama bear)