Arterial bypass surgery for Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Hi

My name's Debi, and I'm fundraising for medical expenses for myself. In 2020, I began having aggressive arterial blood clotting events, and was diagnosed with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome in 2021. My illness destroyed my career, my teeth, and my arteries. I've lost count of how many arterial procedures I've had in the last 3 years, and now I need an arterial bypass on what I refer to as my "angry" leg.

The bypass needs to be done soon, as my leg shuts down every couple of months now, and the infection in my mouth from the destruction to my teeth has caused my body to already reject 3 stents within 5 months. I have had 4 arterial cleanouts since May, and need a bypass asap, but the infection on my mouth is doing it's best to undermine any progress.

With your help, Ive managed to have most of the major Oral surgery, and now need 2 more oral surgeries to get rid of the rest of the dental infection before the upcoming arterial bypass so my body doesn't shut down the leg again.

I had most of my teeth removed in order to stop the infection which has already landed me in the hospital once this summer for IV antibiotics. I was admitted in May, June, July and August, and will be admitted for oral surgery Sep 20.

This fundraiser does not include the cost of dentures yet.

My fundraiser is to address the emergent need to get these teeth out of my mouth before they kill me. I need plasma replacement to quickly heal the gum area involved and also encourages the build-up of more bone where the tooth was removed. This, in turn, makes the area a more solid foundation. I am already dealing with severe gingivitis and bone loss, and nothing for the dentures to anchor to yet.

However, I have increased my fundraising goal to try and get the dentures done as well, and thank God, the upper dentures are done. Now to get the surgical work done on the lowers asap! I am constantly bombarded with the cost of going to the hematologist the rheumatologist, the cardiologist, the vascular surgeon, and now the oral surgeon. All this adds up very quickly. I have to drive myself to Michigan again (1,000 miles each way) to meet with one of the top leaders in research and treatment for this monster of a disease who has shown interest in my case, as well as the vascular surgeon team which will select the most suitable veins ib my body to use for the bypass. I am very blessed Universoty of Michigan took me on as a patient, adding me to their busy schedule.

Each drive requires a total of 7 hotel nights. A $125 donation would land me in a safe hotel on the road. 2 nights on the way up, a couple nights in town when I arrive, and 2 on the way down. $450 will cover most of the gas for this road trip. Then there is the $6000 balance of dental work remaining including another surgical extraction, a root canal, crown, all of which are needed in order to get lower partial dentures and rid my mouth of the infection which keeps shutting down my leg.

Follow me as I share my story, my progress, and travel to one of the country's top specialists who will do all he can to get this Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome manageable. APS is rare, aggressive and definitely tanks your quality of life, so I have to fight and fight hard to keep advocating for the help I need.

Thank you for reading, and thank you so much for anything at all you can contribute.

Debi

UPDATE 1:05 A.M. 09/18/23

Well, insomnia and I go way back and I definitely am experiencing some pre-surgical jitters. I have faith in my surgeon. I have faith in the specialists who will monitor my care as surgery is in less than 72 hours.

I need to sweep, mop, vacuum. I need to take my dog in for his routine appointment and hit the road. I live off sandwiches and bring a cooler to keep food costs down. I'm getting closer to my goal but I need your help! Hope to get my MOJO working again soon!

When I was 14, my mentor taught me the art of annunciation. I am praying the lessons are not lost and will help me learn to sing and speak clearly again. I had to learn to speak again after having my teeth pulled, and now I am going to learn to speak again with dentures in my mouth. I hope to God I will learn to sing clearly again. That is a big part of who I am!

A little bit scared? Yes.

I have been through worse. I am strong. Fierce. A warrior.

UPDATE 09212023

Survived the biggest part of the oral surgery. Completely exhausted. Thanks to my friends. Now begins the recovery. Car in shop getting tires so I can safely travel to University of Michigan Hospital to meet the specialist Right now, sleep and pudding are all I am worried about.

UPDATE 09242024

They told me the bruising would begin and here it is! Keeping my chin up....with a bag of frozen peas, that is.

I walked my dog this morning on a long slow walk. I imagine it did get my heart rate up just enough for the color to start. Guess I will make scarves a fashion trend again.

UPDATE 09292023

At this point, I have had the oral surgery.

I had a major scare when the clotting disease almost made me bleed out and clot out at the same time, and spent about 18 hours in the ER...twice due to extensive dental bleeding and clotting complications. I was discharged at 2am and grabbed an Uber and headed to a Motel 6 so I could be close to the hospital, which was a smart move! Two hours after arriving, bleeding resumed with a vengeance. Back to the ER where my hemoglobin was dropping until they repeated the earlier process ordered by my oral surgeon of applying SurgiCel, a local topical clotting agent to stop the bleeding. It worked. Hooray!

Then I was left his office via Uber to the oral surgeon's office for in person evaluation. He states the disease and the blood thinners make things very complicated in my case, and we came up with an emergency plan should bleeding reoccur.

I then grabbed yet another Uber to go pick up my car since it had been sitting in the shop. She has a new set of tires now, and boy was she overdue. I will feel much safer on those mountain roads not riding on bald tires.

Exhausted on the drive home home, I was SO glad to get back to this boy, and so very thankful to have a good friend to help with him in times of constant medical crises!

I am preparing for my drive to Michigan where I'm meeting with one of the Country's leaders in treatment and research for this rare disease so we can establish an effective treatment regimen.

I will then Make the long drive home.

We will determine how soon the arterial bypass can be safely done.

After my gums have healed, I'll get for dental prostheses.

It's a rough road, and I am so very grateful for those who are jpining me in spirit by listening, giving and helping me to not feel alone. Thank you.