Rachel's expenses during Islet Cell Transplant
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GOFUNDME for Rachel’s housing, travel, and medications during her Auto Islet Cell Transplant at Baylor Scott & White’s Liver and Pancreas Disease Center in Dallas, TX.
She will be staying at Twice Blessed House. This GOFUNDME was created by Katie Potts.
Many of you may have met or know my sister Rachel, and for those of you who haven’t, she’s the one in the stripes in the photo below.
For those of you who don’t know, over the past two years, my younger sister Rachel has hardly been able to leave her house. For those of you that do know her, yes she is a bit of an introvert, but she has been stuck inside due to chronic pain and “attacks” that often leave her sick on the floor for hours. She used to have a job as a phlebotomist and even as a salon manager, but pain first from a car accident and then an onset of these chronic attacks have left her unable to hold a job and have put her life on pause since 2016.
After about 7 years of trying to get a diagnosis for these attacks, she finally had a breakthrough and got a formal diagnosis from a doctor in Dallas. Even though she was excited to finally have a diagnosis and a way to fix these attacks, the solution has been a bit of a shock. Her doctor has recommended a procedure to remove her pancreas, spleen, and part of her small intestine. More specifically titled a total pancreatectomy followed by autotransplantation (TPIAT) for acute relapsing and chronic pancreatitis. Another name for this procedure is an Auto Islet Cell Transplant.
If that news wasn’t already shocking enough, Rachel received a phone call a few weeks ago from her doctor’s office to tell her that there had been an unexpected cancellation, and she would qualify to fill the spot.
As of now, the plan is that throughout this February she travels to Dallas for testing before the transplant scheduled for March 1st. (I will attach a link with more details at the bottom of this post for those of you who like to read about these things).
It is good news that there has been an opening for her to get this transplant done, but she is definitely worried not only about her transplant and the aftermath but also about hospital bills.
Family and friends, I didn’t create this GoFundMe to fund her transplant, because that in itself will be quite the undertaking even with help.
I did create this GoFundMe to help in covering her housing, travel expenses, and medications while in Dallas for the weeks leading up to and during her transplant. After the transplant, she will be required to return to Dallas monthly to monitor the effectiveness of the transplant. Baylor Scott and White in Dallas offers discounted housing available for transplant patients and a few family members called Twice Blessed House.
For more info about the transplant: https://www.bswhealth.com/treatments-and-procedures/islet-cell-transplant
To me, this GoFundMe is personal, in addition to helping her however I can during this next year, this GoFundMe is an effort to show her that God provides and will continue to provide for her. All donations are appreciated. No donation is too small, if you are unable to donate at this time, please share in support. Thank you!
Organizer
Katie Potts
Organizer
Lubbock, TX