Help Peggy Chesnick, 1976 Valley High School Alumn

We go through life and see others struggle. Can we help? 

Hi. My name Dave Purpura. I’m trying to help a friend and fellow alumni of 1976 Valley High School with expenses.

Her name is Peggy Chesnick. 

She has a lot of medical bills and is having problems with making it month to month and it’s getting worse. 

Here are some of the medical problems she faces everyday. 

Syringomyelia. Syringomyelia is a condition characterized by a fluid-filled cavity or cyst known as a syrinx that forms within the spinal cord. Peggy’s syrinx runs from her C5 through her T12 discs. Peggy suffers from chronic pain, migraines, pain in the neck and shoulders, muscle weakness, pain and stiffness in the legs, numbness and decreased sensation, especially to hot and cold, abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis), muscle contractions, and uncoordinated movements (ataxia). She has had this condition for decades and it has progressed over the years. It’s expected that she’ll soon need a wheelchair as she also has Charcot Marie Tooth Disease, which is inherited peripheral neuropathy. Her neuropathy is rapidly progressing, and she is losing her ability to use her hands and having difficulty walking. She frequently falls due to her neuropathy. 

 Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency Peggy needs to take daily steroids for the rest of her life or else she’ll die. Her body doesn’t produce cortisol, which is a necessary hormone for us all. 

Additionally, she needs extra steroids for ANY type of stress, such as hot weather, falling, emotional stress, surgery, etc. Without extra steroids, it could cause an adrenal crisis, which could easily lead to death. She’ll soon need home modifications due to her rapidly progressing neuropathy and losing her ability to walk.

Can we help an old friend with some problems?

My email is [email redacted]