Lori Samuels with medical deductible

Please consider helping my best friend, Lori Samuels, who is like family. Lori is fighting her battle against a chronic neurological disease called Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP).

CIDP is a rare (1-2 per 100,000) autoimmune disorder that attacks the protective covering of the nerves in your body. This has caused excruciating pain to her arms, hands, legs, and feet, loss of sensation in her fingers and toes, and has caused her muscles to weaken making it difficult for her to walk without a walker. Not to mention the emotional and psychological toll this has been on especially her, but her family as well.

Lori has been battling this disease since December 2022. She was hospitalized for 3 weeks before having to go to a physical rehabilitation center for one month, which is all insurance would cover. Over the course of that month, she had to relearn the basics we take for granted every day. For example using a fork, standing up to brush her teeth, walking up the stairs, taking a shower, etc. After eight long months, she is still taking numerous medications daily and participating in physical therapy three times a week with very minimal improvement.

This is where we need your help! High-dose Intravenous (IV) Immune Globulins (IVIG) is the only drug that has been approved by the FDA for treatment of CIDP. IVIG is made from antibodies that come from healthy donated human plasma. These antibodies help to block and protect the processes that attack and destroy the nerves. The average cost of IVIG over a 2-year period (1 treatment a month) is between $111,406 and $117,233!

Right now, insurance is refusing to cover any portion of this life-changing treatment. Lori’s doctors are doing everything they can to plead with the insurance companies to change their minds.

My family and I, alongside hers, want to help her as much as we can! We humbly ask for your help by simply sharing her story and/or donating to help cover a small portion of the treatment!

We ask from the bottom of our hearts for your help in fighting this battle against CIDP.

Any support you can give will be extremely appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read Lori’s story.