Pam Catt Care Fund

Easter of this year,  44 year old Pam Catt walked into the hospital and hasn't walked since.  Thinking she'd aggravated a back injury or a side effect of her Graves Disease, she was seeking help for pain in her back and numbness in her leg.  The pain reached an extreme level and paralysis took over. Testing revealed she had Neuromyelitis Optica, Devic's Syndrome , a very rare, severe demyelinating disease.   Pam did not have insurance coverage and was released from the hospital saying there wasn't anything more they could do for her. There was no plan for pain management and she was paralyzed from the chest down, with limited movement in only her left arm.  

  

They applied for Social Security Disability, Medicare and Medicade and were denied based on her work history. She had waitressed and was a house wife, raising 4 children, two are now serving in the military.  She hadn't paid enough into the system.  They were counseled to appeal and have out of necessity and for urgent help, enrolled for insurance in November,  effective January 1.



Her husband Brian, an Army vet, has handled Pam's around the clock care.  Brian still works full time, handles her night time care, leaves work at lunch to prepare her meal, feed and tend her personal care.  Family is with her during the day in case of emergency.   The disease attacks have been aggressive and frequent.   She is in constant raw nerve pain with lesions to the 8th vertebra.  She is experiencing failing vision, respiratory distress and bed sores.



 The doctor on call from her initial hospital stay agreed to be her primary physician, miraculously his office was only  2 miles from their home. He has worked with them financially to handle her severe pain management needs.  His last observation of Pam, is estimated she is at 75 lbs and he felt it was time for hospice care.   ALL of her needs to date have been paid for out of pocket, and with the use of now maxed out credit cards.  We are hoping for donations to hire hospice care and counseling as her needs are now dire and more than the family and her husband are capable of.   Any funds over the hospice care cost will go to after arrangements.

Pam's husband Brian wishes to thank family, friends and his employer for their generosity and to anyone that can help during this humbling time.