Life Saving Help for Nancy Perlman

When I was 28 years old, I was electrocuted while performing surgery on a patient. As a result of my electrocution, I was no longer able to practice surgery. Also, I was crushed by the fact that I probably would not be able to bear children. As a result of the traumatic events that occurred to me physically, I was unable to gain employment in any other medical field. In 2001 I traveled to Germany and was the fifth person to be placed into a Ketamine/Ativan coma for several days to try to decrease the amount of pain as well as the other effects of Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome II (CRPS II). The treatment was partially successful. When I returned to work doing research that involved using my hands, the CRPS II symptoms returned.

For 23 years I have been battling the after-effects of that event. Those sequelae include multi-organ system failure, losing control over my autonomic nervous system, as well as migraine headaches, traumatic brain injury and other neurological diseases. These sequelae have resulted in my 100% dependency on oxygen. My chronic respiratory failure has led the doctors to put me on a portable ventilator. It takes me a very long time to complete everyday tasks.

As a result of my medical situation, I cannot drive nor take public transportation because I cannot walk very far or climb stairs. The electrical current caused severe osteoporosis and I have had several fractures and surgeries. My days are often filled with doctor’s appointments, test procedures and multiple therapies. These therapies presently include -speech/voice therapy, vision therapy, vestibular therapy and intensive PT/OT at Magee Intensive Outpatient Rehab. (I was blessed to be excepted). 

I am in the process of applying to University of Pennsylvania Center for treatment of Anxiety to deal with my PTSD and multiple sleep disorders. 

Even though I am a patient at Jefferson Neuroscience Institute and Jefferson Headache Center, both in Philadelphia, PA, I am being referred to New York University Dyautonomic Center to try to slow down the incurable disease of autonomic dystonia. It's uncurable. After returning to Philadelphia with a treatment plan to slow down this disease, I will need to go to the Mayo Clinic to receive further work-up for other diseases that resulted from the electrocution such as complete dysfunction of my GI tract. 

I am seeking funding to help cover the trips to the above-mentioned institutions. Although I am receiving disability payments through Social Security, the funds are not enough to cover all of my medications and other equipment as well as my everyday living expenses. An example include toe-offs & other prosthetic devices to retrain my leg how to walk correctly

I would be very appreciative of any assistance while I fight these battles so that I can once again be a productive member of society practicing as an Addiction Counselor. 

Thank you from the bottom of my electrocuted heart.