Laurie's Journey Towards Recovery

I am starting this fund for my dear friend Laurie Steckelberg.  Laurie was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 7 years ago, at the age of 28.  She has since undergone various treatments, both medical (oral antibiotics, IV infusions, etc...) and homeopathic in attmepts to put her colitis in remisson.  Unfortunately, Laurie's symptoms only progressed and her disease became more severe as time went on.  She required almost bi-weekly blood an iron transfusions and had countless doctors appoitnments, trips to the emergency department, and hospital stays, until it was decided by Laurie and her team of doctors, that they had exhausted all options and the only option for remission, was major surgery.  At this time, Laurie was taken out of work indefinitely.  Although scared, and mentally, physically, an emotionally exhausted and depleated, Laurie faced her disease and surgery with strength, courage, and a positive outlook, telling herself better days were ahead and her quality of life would be restored.  She was hopeful and looking forward to getting back to doing the things she loved.  This disease completely debilitated her and robbed her of so many of life's simple joys that we take for granted, such as going to the grocery store, visiting with family and friends, eating out at a resturant, traveling, the list goes on...
On January 7th 2017, Laurie went in for surgery to completely remove her large intestine, which would require an ileostomy bag for 6 months, after which, 2 additional, major surgeries would be required within the next year.  In what was supposed to be a 3-5 day hospital stay, turned into an almost 3-week nightmare (in the hospital) and the unthinkable happened.  Laurie became extremely ill.  A few days following surgery, Laurie had bilateral pulmonary embolisms (PEs) which required her to be closely montiored in the ICU.  Shortly after she stablized from the PEs and was transferred back to the floor, she started experiencing extreme pain.  She was transferred back to the ICU and an abscess was found where her staples dislodged from her surgery, creating an infection and causing sepsis.  For those of you who do not know, sepsis is a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection.  The abscess required a procedure to place an external tubing to allow the infection to drain.  If she had not already been through enough, a second abscess was found during that time and an additional drain was placed.  Laurie was suppose to leave the hospital with her ileostomy bag, but left with 2 additional external bags to allow her abscesses to drain and heal.  With all of this, she remained positive and hopeful, and continously looked on the "brighter side," always knowing better days were coming.  Unfortunately it only worsened from there.  She was informed about 3 weeks after being relased from the hospital that her postion was being terminated and she was being let go from her job.  
As you can imagine, Laurie's medical bills are piling up, and with being let go from her job while she was on disability, high deductibles, and soon being required to pay out of pocket for health care, she faces serious financial stress.  Laurie not only has medical bills from her surgery, but from the unexpected, lengthy hospital stay.  Laurie also continues to require almost weekly follow-up by her physicians and lab work.  She requires medical supplies for her ileostomy care and will continue to require intensive medical follow-up over the next year, as she has 2 additional "phases" of surgery that are required.
For the people that know Laurie, you know she is one of the most selfless, giving, caring, kind-hearted people life has to offer.  She would do anything for anyone and never expects anything in return.  Please consider helping my dear friend in her time of need, so she can focus her attention towards healing instead of worrying about how she will afford to get the medical attention she requires and deserves.  Thank you for your consideration and please share her story.