Help and Support for Joshua & Lakeyla Thomas

Friends and Family,

If you are reading this, I want to thank you for taking the time to do so. Never in my wildest dreams would I have anticipated needing the type of help I'm asking for.

Where do I start... My beautiful wife Lakeyla has been in the hospital since April 25th. Here's a little backstory on how this came to be. Lakeyla started taking a medication for her Seronegative Arthritis on April 1st and on April 2nd, she received her first Covid Vaccine. Fast forward 3 weeks (April 24th to be exact), and she is in the E.R. with sharp chest pains that are going down her left arm. After a couple of hours and still sitting in the E.R., she decided to leave since she was starting to feel better. When she came home, we noticed her back was breaking out in what appeared to be a rash. By the morning, her chest pains were back, the rash has spread to multiple areas of her body, and her hands, feet, and lips were swelling and in extreme pain. We went back to the E.R. where they conducted multiple tests with no answer in sight. At the request of the Dr., we had her admitted to what we thought was an overnight stay to undergo more tests. To summarize, and without going into too many details, the Doctors believe she is suffering from the following:

1. Drug Reaction/Steven Johnson Syndrome (Rare)

2. Vasculitis with Mononeuritis Multiplex/Neuropathy

3. Severe Flare up of Seronegative Arthritis (Joint/Enthesitis)

4. Thrush (which covered her tongue and her esophagus)

5. Behçet's Disease

6. Pericarditis

They have done over 150 tests (some of them repeated), and has seen at least 6 specialists over the course of 2 weeks at the hospital and she is currently on 14 medications. She has made improvements in some areas and other areas there have been none. We are at the point where we need a more concise plan of action/diagnosis/remedy for her. With that being said, Mayo Clinic has agreed to take on her case. Unfortunately, at this time, it would have to be outpatient due to lack of beds. We are hoping that will change.

Due to the severity of Lakeyla's situation, I have been off of work since everything started. We still don't know when she will be discharged from the hospital either. All that being said, my wife will be unable to work for quite some time and will have exhausted her PTO within the next week. She is able to receive Short-term disability, but that only pays 60%. My PTO will be exhausted within the next couple of weeks but do not know if I will be gone longer than that or not. With the medical bills likely to be in the 6 figure range, the expense of travelling/lodging accommodations to Mayo Clinic and the lack of full household income, we are presented with a huge financial burden way beyond our means.

It is with great humility that I am asking if anyone can bless us financially, I would be eternally grateful.

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Joshua Thomas