Help with Stephanie Jones' Medical fund

Hello,

My name is Stephanie Jones.

I am in need of assistance to help pay for my medical bills. I have accumulated over $200,000 so far in medical debt.

Here is the events of my past 5 months.

March 13th I woke up to use the restroom and sat down to have an excruciating ripping feeling in my left thoracic (mid back) which is located right under the rib cage of my back. I felt nauseous, dizzy, and a severe weakness in my legs. I had to walk from my bathroom to my bedroom so I could try and call my husband. I was in such pain I wanted to call an ambulance. Anyone that knows me, knows it takes an awful lot to get me to the ER let along call an ambulance.

My husband was able to leave work right away and take me to the ER. It was hard to walk to the car due to, not only the pain but weakness in my legs. Once we got to the NKC hospital they just said without imaging, that it was a pulled muscle.

Fast forward to two days after, my toes in both my legs while I was just sitting in my recliner started to go numb and tingle. It was moving up my legs so I decided to call my daughter to come and get me to take me back to NKC hospital. By the time she came to get me (15 minutes tops from the call) my numbness moved up to my thighs in both legs causing it to be really difficult to walk since I couldn't feel my lower legs. I had help getting into the car by my husband and my daughters fiance. I was still in a lot of pain. After arriving at the ER I was put in a wheelchair. By the time I got to the back and in a room my legs were numb up to my hips. I had to have assistance to get on the bed. This was the last time I stood or walked to this day.

I was taken to get a CT. I explained that I could not walk and I needed help to get on the CT table. The staff stated they wanted me to try to stand and get on the table. I asked if they would be there incase I was unable to. They said they had me. They in fact did not. I fell on the CT table face down with my rib cage against the side of the table with me hanging on with my hands to the other side of the table crying asking for help. My legs were numb and was unable to feel them, but my knees were on the ground. It took them 5 minutes to finally figure out how to help me.off of the CT table. While still in severe pain I was put on the CT table. When I was brought back I was crying hysterically (anyone who knows me, knows I do not cry unless it is bad). The person who brought me back told my daughter that I took a kneel at the CT table. It took the staff there several hours and an MRI imaging trip to get me admitted. I was screaming and crying in pain for hours and hours while being treated like I was a seeker for meds. I don't take meds unless I need them, and morphine does not work with my body which was all they kept giving me.

After admission the medical staff finally was able to stabilize me a little. I never felt pain like that.

I ended up getting more MRI imaging orders. Altogether I had 3 different MRI trips. I was informed that I had 3 bulging disks and stenosis in my thoracic. They managed my pain and I was completely paralyzed. Unable to feel my legs nor move them.

A week into being there (NKC hospital) I had difficulties breathing. I felt dizzy, faint, and like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I again was scared. The nurse "Pam" bless her for being there, was able to help me asap. I had a racing pulse, low BP, and my oxygen was dropping down to upper 70's and lower 80's repeatedly. I went for testing, another CT but this one was of my chest, and I had ultrasounds of both my legs. When I came back to my room I had a swarm of doctors and nurses all waiting for me. They told me not to get upset or get too emotional and that I had blood clots all over, which is why they were rushing me to the ICU. I was on 4 litters of oxygen at that moment. They asked me if I wanted to call my husband, then another nurse said she was going to call him because he needed to get there asap. I was really scared, but I turned to the heavenly father and prayed like I never prayed before.

When Kyle (my husband) got to the hospital I was getting ready to get an ultrasound of my heart, because my vitals were all over the place with low BP and a high pulse. The tech was doing her thing, then suddenly she pulled her hand back abruptly, took screenshots of the images, and sent it to the cardiology team. She quickly ran out of the room asking for the cardiologist "stat". I knew I was in trouble at that point. I not only had several blood clots in my legs and a Saddle PE (Pulmonary Embolism), but I had another clot about to dislodge in my heart. At that point I was told I really had no choice but to allow them to administer a medication they called a "clot blaster". This came with high risk of the possibility of bleeding out internally and I was not to get excited, cry, or anything that may change my breathing and emotions. This was so it wouldn't effect my blood pressure. I was sooo scared and prayed hard. I tried to tell Kyle (my husband) what I wanted in death, what to tell the kids, how to do the bills, etc. He of course didn't want to hear it. Thank goodness I made it through and two days later I was moved out of ICU and back to a normal room.

A week later I was sent to a skilled nursing facility where I had made some improvements. I am still unable to feel normally from the hips down. It is all pins and needles. My left lower leg moves pretty well and is getting stronger. My right leg has been dormant for most of this time. I call it my "dead leg".

My surgeon decided due to my clots to proceed with the wait and see approach. This meant I had to wait for at least 2 more months for surgery to be scheduled. I had an appointment on June 27th to verify that my legs and chest via an ultrasound that the clots were gone. If so, I will would be scheduled a surgery date. I now have one set. I have had to get an IVC Filter implanted in my artery to help disolve any clots that may form. I will need to have another procedure done to get a marker put in place on my spine before the big day. 

I have been scheduled for spinal surgery on September 20th. They will do a decompression of my spine and open my back to clean my spinal stenosis, opening any pinching on my nerve. After the surgery I will be moved back to a physical therapy facility where I will undergo serveral more months of therapy learning to walk again. 

Which is more time away from work and my family. We are struggling with only my husband's income for a family of 6.

I have been going through a lot emotionally, physically, and mentally since March 13th.

I haven't been able to work due to this. I have accumulated a lot of bills such as; medical, physical therapy, specialist appointments, prescriptions, medical supplies, transportation, procedures and surgeries which are not cheep. Not including our usual bills to maintain our home and feed our kids. 

To get out of my home I have to use a transportation service which charges $167.00 each appointment I have outside of my home.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my story and any assistance you may be able to do is so much appreciated. I feel so bad asking for help. I am a strong independent person and this is so hard to ask for help.

Through prayer and family I am making it through.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.