Kathy Balman's EDS & POTS Fight

Please see my latest update for a more detailed update on my journey. I am still fighting EDS & POTS and determined to get back my quality of life. We are still collecting donations through this GoFundMe and PayPal any funds recieved will be used for the following: 1) outstanding medical bills from my neck and shoulder surgery 2) our upcoming move to AZ (move mid July) to have access to better EDS Dr's, weather and ADA friendly public transporation 3) assistive medical devices like an adjustable bed so I can sleep better with my head properly elevated, power wheelchair, theracane, better knee brace, mmj card, public transportation card, etc. _______________ Orginal GoFundMe campaign... The orginal funds raised of $19,874 went totally towards my neck and skull surgery. The total cost of the procedure was over $30k we still own money to the anesthesiologist, imaging center, surgery center and hospital (for when I had the fall after surgery. And we still have a credit card we need to pay off which we had to use to pay the remaining $5k to the Dr, since the total cost was $25,000. Let us introduce you to our good friend, Kathy Balman. Kathy is not one to complain or talk about her problems, pains, or needs, but is someone who gives everything to her family and friends, never asking for anything in return.   Kathy has struggled every day of her life (since at least 10 years old) with a condition known as EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) and also POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.   EDS is an inherited condition that affects the connective tissues in the body. Connective tissue is responsible for supporting and structuring the skin, blood vessels, bones, and organs. It's made up of cells, fibrous material, and a protein called collagen.  EDS is caused by a group of genetic disorders that cause a defect in collagen production.  Kathy having this diagnosis means every part of her body is affected:  joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, basically anything held together with collagen.  She has had multiple surgeries and other issues since she was a young girl.  Kathy suffers daily from symptoms related to EDS such as loose joints, muscle pain and fatigue, chronic pain and more. (POTS) is a condition characterized by too little blood returning to the heart when moving from a lying down to a standing up position (orthostatic intolerance). Orthostatic Intolerance causes lightheadedness or fainting that can be eased by lying back down. In people with POTS, these symptoms are also accompanied by a rapid increase in heart rate.  The cause of POTS is unknown. However, episodes often begin after major surgery, trauma, or a viral illness and with Kathy's history related to EDS, POTS has also wreaked havoc on her life.  While many people have fairly mild symptoms and can continue with regular daily activities, others (like Kathy) are severely affected with limited abilities. Kathy has been treated by many doctors; however, while many of these have stated they TREAT patients with EDS, they have not been specialists in understanding and treating EDS.  There is no cure, but there are options for relief.  Most doctors simply refer to a pain clinic for the patient to be prescribed various high level medications to help the patient tolerate the pain, but to tolerate the pain level means being knocked out by the medications and unable to complete the simplest of daily living needs, which also leads to states of depression.   Kathy not only homeschools her two wonderful children, ages 9 and 11, but also started a support group a few years ago as a means of helping her family and other families find free and low-cost educational and social opportunities.  Today that support group boasts a private group membership of over 5000 members.  Kathy organizes weekly learning activities for children of all ages, without any limits for socio-economic background, ethnicity, religious affiliations, learning disability or giftedness, etc.  Children love learning in outdoor classrooms about nature, animals, history, weather and more.  In fact, one of her lifelong goals was to begin a forest education program for homeschoolers.  While her goal is ready and in place to be met, her health is keeping her from reaching it.   Kathy was referred to a renowned specialist in Florida, who has agreed to treat her, but insurance will not cover the surgerical procedure necessary to provide her substantial relief.  It also is far more entailed than originally anticipated.  Surgery will involve a C1, C2 fusion and craniectomy.  While it will not "cure" her, it is expected to relieve the headaches and neck pain as well as POTS symptoms and significant reduction of medications required for daily functioning.  The surgery cost is at least $50,000 and nothing can even be started without a minimum of $20,000 intial payment.  Kathy's family is in the process of selling anything and everything possible in an effort to try to raise what they can, have sought bank loans (unsuccessfully) and are out of options other than agreeing to accept help from others.  Kathy has had to notify families that have supported her efforts with learning opportunities that at least for now, she cannot continue to do the classes.  She is succombing to the heavy medications to tolerate daily life.  These cancelled opportunities also mean a reduction in their family income, as leading these opportunities has provided a minimal income.  So not only are they in need of assistance for the surgery, their budgeted income is being reduced as well. Proceeds from this account are needed as soon as possible to not only enable Kathy to start the process towards this life changing surgery and treatment, but also to limit the amount of exposure her body has to the medications that will be required to cope with the chronic pain. I, and the other admins from our homeschool group, have established this fund to ask for help for a person we have personally watched fight without complaining, give unselfishly for years to us, our families and our friends, and face adversity and extreme challenges with strength and perseverance.  It would mean more than the world to all of us to be able to help Kathy live as normal of a life as possible while doing what she has dreamt of doing for others and the feeling that we have given back at least a token of what she has given all of us. We love and admire Kathy and her family beyond words. Her husband, Ben, has worked tireslessly supporting his wife and children and they've have exhausted all of their possibilities on their own.  Now it is our turn to help.   There is only so much we can do individually, but together we can make a difference in the life of our wonderful leader Kathy Balman.  We thank you in advance for any amount of donation you are willing and able to give to help.