Support Cali Sparks' Fight Against Gastroparesis

Meet Cali Sparks, a vibrant and intelligent individual from Seattle, WA, who suffers from Gastroparesis, a condition that paralyzes the stomach muscles, causing severe pain, nausea, vomiting, malnourishment, and extreme fatigue. Cali has struggled to get timely medical care that they desperately need, as their condition has rapidly declined, dropping Cali under 85lbs. Being a young 25 year old, Cali has been brushed off continuously throughout their entire life being told they are “too young” to have an illness that could be a cause for this. Since childhood, Cali has struggled with these debilitating symptoms, has continuously seen doctors and medical professionals for answers, only to be told repeatedly that they are “too young” and passed off as anxious, lazy, accusations of Cali faking being sick to get out of school, to get out of work, and accusations of secretly having eating disorders or being mentally ill. For years, it has been a fight to get something as simple as answers or a diagnosis. It wasn't until March 2024 that Cali’s GI doctor ordered the right testing that resulted in the clear diagnosis of Gastroparesis.

After finally receiving said diagnosis, all Cali was given was a call from their doctor’s office informing them of their diagnosis, and was told to make a follow-up appointment. The next follow-up appointment was not available until a few months later down the line. From March 2024 until August 2024, Cal could not get in to see the doctor, even after calling repeatedly to get in on the cancelation list, even not having insurance for a time, Cali was willing to pay out of pocket because of how desperate they became. 

Living with this condition makes working a major challenge, but as Cali’s condition has worsened, Cali has been officially unable to work for months. This means for Cali, that they would also lose health insurance, forcing them to be on state insurance. Between July and September of this year, Cali's health rapidly started to decline. From 105lbs in July, Cali soon dropped below 85lbs by September. The only option provided at this point from Cali's GI doctor was to send Cali to a motility specialist who was more qualified and better fit for treating this condition. However, the specialist did not have openings until November. After calling and calling to get in urgently on the cancelation list, Cali's established GI doctor and her office staff sent her urgent messages to get Cali in. A week went by with no calls from her office, and Cali had to go to the ER where the ER doctors also sent the specialist urgent messages to get Cali in as well, deciding she was better fit in treating Cali with the expertise she had in place. Finally, this October, the specialist got Cali in for an appointment by overbooking them as there were no cancelations and no time left to wait. As soon as this specialist assessed Cali, the same day, she sent Cali in for a procedure with herself for an endoscopy and insertion of an NJ tube. This tube goes through the nose down the esophagus and bypasses the stomach, administering nutrients straight into the digestive tract of their small intestine. Cali was then immediately admitted to the hospital. Due to their condition of being so far gone from malnourishment and starving, they were at severe risk of something called refeeding syndrome. After a few days in the hospital, they discharged Cali to go home for tube feeding treatments where Cali would be feeding and receiving nutrients around the clock in a desperate attempt to maintain their weight and soon get their nutrition and weight up to a healthy or stable place. It wasn’t until we were home from the hospital that we would learn Cali’s insurance does not even cover the type of pump and equipment we would need to feed at home. The only option given was to fully pay out of pocket, and Cali being unable to consume any food or nutrition by mouth, our only option is to pay out of pocket every month to simply rent the expensive equipment and nutrient formula Cali needs to survive. 

Currently, Cali is awaiting a consultation with a Thoracic surgeon to discuss options for a gastric drainage surgery as well as a surgical J tube placement.

With the high costs of living, medical costs, and this newly added monthly cost to provide them with home feeds, it is near impossible to even come close to making the amount we need to survive being a single income home. Your support will help go towards: 

* Monthly supply of Tube feeding equipment and formula 

* Monthly rent and utilities

* Follow-up appointments, copays and medical bills 

  Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and support our journey in providing Cali with the life-saving treatment they deserve.