Mandy Meyer Medical Fundraiser

-Fundraiser for Mandy Meyer and Medical Bills
-Created by friends and family

The Journey of Cushing's Disease 

2020 was quite the year for Mandy Marie Meyer.  After many years of what she would describe as suffering physically, mentally, and emotionally, she finally got answers and found out she had a brain tumor right on/next to her pituitary gland. Her family and doctors moved quickly to have the tumor removed in October.  Mandy is now on the road to recovery and this has been such a blessing! With the blessing of finding and removing the tumor successfully, Mandy's family is now beginning to see the financial cost of everything.  As many of you may know, even with insurance, medical costs can be devastating. Mandy is under her father's insurance, however the cost of surgery alone is in the thousands.  Now that Mandy is 18, all the deductibles are now her responsibility. All proceeds collected will be put directly toward medical bills. 

Mandy is an 18 year old senior at her local High School, attends PSEO, is the Class President of her class and works two jobs. She was diagnosed with a rare disease for her age know as Cushing’s Disease. She was diagnosed Sept. 15th, 2020. The cause of the disease was a brain tumor pushing against her pituitary gland. She was producing very excessive amounts of cortisol that was damaging her physical and mental health extensively.  Cortisol is the stress hormone our body makes and Mandy's body was making WAY too much, wreaking havoc on her in many ways. 
The disease started and she first noticed symptoms at age 14, however, didn't know what it was, and caused a large amount of weight gain, at her highest she was 235 pounds and the started experiencing significant symptoms of depression.  She was very dedicated to losing weight and lost 50 pounds but became suicidal. She then went to doctors explaining what she was experiencing with all her mental and physical side effects, tried medication, and most importantly tried fighting for her life. She was told multiple times by different doctors and therapists, that she was “normal” and “things would get better.” She even once mentioned to her doctor once about possibly having a brain tumor. but the doctor just assumed it was anxiety.  Mandy spent 6 years attending and going to  different doctors over the years trying to find a solution and was just told that the things she was experiencing with her body were normal and to keep going to therapy, work on her mental health, and lose weight, so she did, but she didn’t improve to her normal self, “Mandy.” She always knew something was wrong.   Mandy always followed everything the doctors recommended over the years, however found very little relief. 

In the beginning of 2020, she noticed that she was starting to feel worse and became suicidal again. She went to yet another doctor and was told she was “normal.” She kept fighting to find answers, researching and trying to find a psychologist in Duluth, MN. It took awhile to make an appointment due to COVID-19, but when she eventually got in, it wasn’t the right psychologist. She tried to find one in her local area, but she was once told again that she was “normal.”   She tried another doctor in her local area, and she got some hope and the doctor took a blood test. But the results came back and were “normal.” She wanted something to be wrong, something to explain her pain. Mandy didn’t understand what was happening to her. She felt like she was losing herself but she didn’t give up. She worked very hard at trying to stay in shape, working out 1-2 hours a day and eating healthy but nothing wouldn’t budge, neither would her mental health. Instead she continued to get worse, even with anti-depressants and therapy.

She continued to fight her battle with her friends and family by her side. She didn’t want to give up and she was sick of being sick. She went to an OB/GYN and brought a list of ALL of her symptoms over the years. Mandy can remember walking in to the appointment, bawling in tears and showing the doctor her paper of what her body was doing to her.   At first the doctor said, “Did you just look all this up and want me diagnose you with something?” She said, “No, this is what is going on with me and has been for years.” The OB/GYN did a thorough examination and realized there was something more going on.  She also mentioned that the last blood test was read incorrectly.   Mandy cried in tears but tears of happiness.  The doctor told her, “Mandy, if I can’t figure it out, I will find you someone that can.” And her journey began from there.  

She then started testing and the MRI showed the 7.7 mm tumor, she named it Larry.   Mandy was then sent down to the U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital to an Endocrinologist.   Mandy brought a whole binder of her history and what she has been experiencing throughout the years. Typically, this disease can be hard to diagnose, but on that day she was diagnosed because it was quite obvious that Mandy was not “normal” and met her Neurosurgeon. Due to COVID-19 her surgery was going to have have to wait awhile, but Mandy continued to get worse and her surgery was moved to October, 6, 2020.

Mandy had her tumor removed then, but when she woke up she was in much pain, and cried to the nurses that she no longer wanted to be here but deep down inside she knew that she was a fighter, God had a purpose for her, and wanted her old life back.  Mandy had her blood test taken and it showed that the surgery was successful. But the recovery was going to take a very long time one to two years or longer and she would have to be on a medication that was keeping her alive for awhile. Mandy explained to me that it was like she was re-starting life all over again.

Mandy has now been on the road to recovery for about three months, and is doing much better. She will be going into research with her case and hopes to share her journey with others and let’s others know, “ALWAYS BE YOUR ADVOCATE” and she said “There is one person I couldn’t have done it without with, and that’s myself, Mandy.”  Mandy believes that, the answer to depression and anxiety isn’t always antidepressants and therapy.  Other medical conditions could be the cause such as Cushing’s disease, because I had it, so others could too. It’s not rare, it’s possible. 

Mandy now will have to have check ups and regular MRI’s for her disease for the rest of her life. She hopes eventually that her cortisol will produce normal amounts and will be able to get off her medication. She continues to workout and work towards regaining her muscle that was lost and losing weight. Her physical symptoms have greatly decreased. She will continue going to college to get a degree in health or psychology so she can help others. Although, she is improving and on the road to recovery, there has been a lot of left over costs from the surgery, treatments, etc. and there will be more costs in the future.

We are looking for others to help her family cover the costs and help them with Mandy’s recovery.   Thank you! God Bless You! 
VIDEO EXPLAINING STORY