Catherine's medical expenses and hope for a cure.
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Catherine is our youngest daughter. She was always a lively, active, outgoing, athletic, adventurous, hardworking, hopeful, joyful firecracker, and an extremely devoted wife and mother—until approximately 3 years ago when an unbearable and relentless pain on her right front and back abdominal area started a snowball of doctor visits, invasive and unpleasant tests and surgeries that turned her life upside down.
Her horrific journey started around 3 years ago with a multitude of tests and hospitalizations that rendered different diagnoses that were inaccurate. Eventually, doctors narrowed it down to a rare complication restricting the blood flow to veins and arteries surrounding her kidneys and ovaries that required surgery. The first surgery to repair the veins and arteries was performed approximately 3 years ago. The doctors entered through a vein in the groin and repaired approximately 15 veins with stents to restore blood flow.
Unfortunately—and much to our dismay, the surgery sort of caused a tsunami effect. It alleviated the pain and appeared to restore the blood flow to the area, but sadly in a few months the pain returned more intense and now on both sides of her lower back. Therefore, once again after a multitude of tests, different specialists, doctors and a couple more hospitalizations yielding no diagnosis, we found ourselves at square one, again. We were extremely frustrated, overwhelmed and losing all hope!!
Honestly, the entire ordeal of doctor visits, tests, misdiagnoses and/or no idea of a diagnosis and a multitude of opinions was wasting precious time, limited finances, and our already diminishing hope.
Eventually, approximately a year or so into her nightmare and following another whirlwind of doctor visits and unpleasant tests, she was referred to a world renowned vascular surgery specialist in Jacksonville, Mississippi—Dr. Arjun Jayaraj.
At this point, despite the sacrifices, we were willing to travel anywhere to find a cure for Catherine. In the last two years, Dr Jayaraj has performed three surgeries to repair multiple veins and to clean out previously placed stents, which now appears to be a requirement for the rest of her life. Catherine's continuous pain and difficulty with blood flow and her being hunched over after surgeries is not uncommon and unfortunately Dr. Rayjar doesn't understand why it's happening.
Out of the thousands of similar surgeries Dr. Jayaraj has performed throughout his intensive practice Catherine's is the only one he has seen hunched over and needing to return for additional surgeries. It's overwhelming and extremely frustrating for all involved and especially for our daughter Catherine. Sadly, although it was a blessing finding Dr Rayjar, and him being the most impactful and resourceful doctor thus far, Catherine is currently the same as the beginning of this overwhelming storm and possibly worse than ever. She has another surgery scheduled with Dr. Jayaraj for this December. We're hoping for outstanding results and prospectively new perspective on her condition.
Meanwhile throughout the storm of events, besides Catherine's diminishing health her normal lifestyle and life has suffered immensely. She's unable to do much of what she use to do.
Because of the immense discomfort, the only way Catherine's pain would subside some is by being in the fetal position. This unfortunately worsens her being hunched over and makes it difficult for her to straighten up and walk upright without a walker. The inability and difficulty to get around keeps her homebound; she needs to be driving when she does go out—t’s mostly only to doctor appointments.
In addition, because of the unbearable pain and discomfort, she's unable to fully participate in the day to day of her little boy, Jacob’s, life like she was before. He's grown so much throughout her ordeal. He’ll be turning 5 on November 29. Not being able to be a hundred percent involved in Jacob's events and activities has taken a huge toll on Catherine; emotionally, mentally and physically, causing extreme depression and anxiety. Also, the continuous need for procedures and doctor visits that result in more and more questions instead of providing results, adds an overwhelming emotional and financial burden that's not easy to cope with.
Thankfully, her mother has been able to work with her own employer to accommodate time (up to two weeks per visit), to travel and assist Catherine on the multiple trips to local doctor and therapy visits and to Mississippi.
Also, although it's getting more and more difficult to maintain as the situation prolongs, her devoted husband Jorge, with tremendous sacrifices, has managed to sustain the overwhelming financial burdens. The hospital and doctor debts continue to accumulate, mostly because the insurance doesn't cover a lot of the tests and therapies, the necessary treatments required by specialists Dr. Jayaraj, nor the travel and accommodation expenses involved in traveling to Mississippi appointments. Moreover, there's been conversations regarding the possibility of traveling outside the country for innovative tests and procedures.
We're overwhelmed and desperately feeling hopeless, so we're willing to go anywhere and indulge any and every possibility offered. We want our Catherine to live and enjoy life once again and be an integral part of her son Jacob's life for years to come. You'll support will contribute to that desire/prayer.
We want to thank you in advance for your support. We truly appreciate it. Your support means the world to Catherine and all her family.
#GofundCatherineHope
Sincerely Thankful!
#disABLEDUDE
Her horrific journey started around 3 years ago with a multitude of tests and hospitalizations that rendered different diagnoses that were inaccurate. Eventually, doctors narrowed it down to a rare complication restricting the blood flow to veins and arteries surrounding her kidneys and ovaries that required surgery. The first surgery to repair the veins and arteries was performed approximately 3 years ago. The doctors entered through a vein in the groin and repaired approximately 15 veins with stents to restore blood flow.
Unfortunately—and much to our dismay, the surgery sort of caused a tsunami effect. It alleviated the pain and appeared to restore the blood flow to the area, but sadly in a few months the pain returned more intense and now on both sides of her lower back. Therefore, once again after a multitude of tests, different specialists, doctors and a couple more hospitalizations yielding no diagnosis, we found ourselves at square one, again. We were extremely frustrated, overwhelmed and losing all hope!!
Honestly, the entire ordeal of doctor visits, tests, misdiagnoses and/or no idea of a diagnosis and a multitude of opinions was wasting precious time, limited finances, and our already diminishing hope.
Eventually, approximately a year or so into her nightmare and following another whirlwind of doctor visits and unpleasant tests, she was referred to a world renowned vascular surgery specialist in Jacksonville, Mississippi—Dr. Arjun Jayaraj.
At this point, despite the sacrifices, we were willing to travel anywhere to find a cure for Catherine. In the last two years, Dr Jayaraj has performed three surgeries to repair multiple veins and to clean out previously placed stents, which now appears to be a requirement for the rest of her life. Catherine's continuous pain and difficulty with blood flow and her being hunched over after surgeries is not uncommon and unfortunately Dr. Rayjar doesn't understand why it's happening.
Out of the thousands of similar surgeries Dr. Jayaraj has performed throughout his intensive practice Catherine's is the only one he has seen hunched over and needing to return for additional surgeries. It's overwhelming and extremely frustrating for all involved and especially for our daughter Catherine. Sadly, although it was a blessing finding Dr Rayjar, and him being the most impactful and resourceful doctor thus far, Catherine is currently the same as the beginning of this overwhelming storm and possibly worse than ever. She has another surgery scheduled with Dr. Jayaraj for this December. We're hoping for outstanding results and prospectively new perspective on her condition.
Meanwhile throughout the storm of events, besides Catherine's diminishing health her normal lifestyle and life has suffered immensely. She's unable to do much of what she use to do.
Because of the immense discomfort, the only way Catherine's pain would subside some is by being in the fetal position. This unfortunately worsens her being hunched over and makes it difficult for her to straighten up and walk upright without a walker. The inability and difficulty to get around keeps her homebound; she needs to be driving when she does go out—t’s mostly only to doctor appointments.
In addition, because of the unbearable pain and discomfort, she's unable to fully participate in the day to day of her little boy, Jacob’s, life like she was before. He's grown so much throughout her ordeal. He’ll be turning 5 on November 29. Not being able to be a hundred percent involved in Jacob's events and activities has taken a huge toll on Catherine; emotionally, mentally and physically, causing extreme depression and anxiety. Also, the continuous need for procedures and doctor visits that result in more and more questions instead of providing results, adds an overwhelming emotional and financial burden that's not easy to cope with.
Thankfully, her mother has been able to work with her own employer to accommodate time (up to two weeks per visit), to travel and assist Catherine on the multiple trips to local doctor and therapy visits and to Mississippi.
Also, although it's getting more and more difficult to maintain as the situation prolongs, her devoted husband Jorge, with tremendous sacrifices, has managed to sustain the overwhelming financial burdens. The hospital and doctor debts continue to accumulate, mostly because the insurance doesn't cover a lot of the tests and therapies, the necessary treatments required by specialists Dr. Jayaraj, nor the travel and accommodation expenses involved in traveling to Mississippi appointments. Moreover, there's been conversations regarding the possibility of traveling outside the country for innovative tests and procedures.
We're overwhelmed and desperately feeling hopeless, so we're willing to go anywhere and indulge any and every possibility offered. We want our Catherine to live and enjoy life once again and be an integral part of her son Jacob's life for years to come. You'll support will contribute to that desire/prayer.
We want to thank you in advance for your support. We truly appreciate it. Your support means the world to Catherine and all her family.
#GofundCatherineHope
Sincerely Thankful!
#disABLEDUDE
Organizer
Lazaro Gutierrez
Organizer
Cape Coral, FL