Hi, my name is Jennifer and I am fundraising for my sisters-in-law: Amy and Carmen. If you know Amy and Carmen, you know they would give their shirts off their backs to strangers. I think it's time they feel the love back. In May of 2024, Amy started feeling pain in her eye and face. Think electricity discharge and being zapped unexpectedly. A trip to the ER and multiple tests revealed the worst: Trigeminal neuralgia aka the suicide disease. Multiple treatments started that all failed. Pain specialists, and seizure meds, but nothing helped. Covid put a halt on many doctors' visits but she finally was able to see a neurosurgeon who gave hope. In January 2024, Amy underwent brain surgery: Micro Vascular Decompression surgery to be exact. She was, we were all hopeful. It was a tough recovery but there was no pain...for 2 weeks. It came back with a vengeance. Increased pain, brain fog, altered cognitive state from the surgery and the pain. Amy and Carmen then reached out to the Mayo Clinic which made Amy a priority. After 4 trips to Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, Amy is now scheduled for a second brain surgery on August 11th, 2024. As you can imagine, it has affected every area of her life, especially work. In September 2024, Amy went on FMLA and has not worked since. She now has filed for disability but we all know how slow this process is. In the meantime, Carmen is working 24/7 to stay afloat, but we all know those bills are debilitating. Carmen does not have any PTO but will have to take time off to care for Amy after her surgery and return home. Right now, the plan is for Amy to stay in AZ for at least 3 weeks for recovery. If pain is not managed, then another 4 weeks stay at a pain management clinic. So here I am, fundraising so they can both concentrate on Amy's health and recovery and not worry about their bills. Help me help them! Thank you Hi, my name is Kandi Chaney, Carmen and Amy are my sisters in law but we leave the "in-law" part out. They are my sisters. They were there for me when my world fell apart and now sadly, I'm trying to do the same for them. My husband Cliff, Carmen's brother passed away from cancer on March 9, 2024. We barley had time to process that when in May Amy started feeling severe pain on the left side of her face. By severe, I mean a shocking and completely random electric bolt hitting your eye, cheek, teeth, jaw or forehead affecting one area or all areas at once. It was debilitating and stealing her away from her family. Amy is the rock for everyone! There's nothing she isn't capable of or willing to take on and she would cross the world to help you. She's incredibly smart and a problem solver- a lot like Cliff. So when it was apparent we were going to lose him I found comfort in knowing I had Amy. If I had any problems she would be there to help, just the way Cliff always was. But Amy wasn't Amy by the end of that first summer. She had to concentrate on surviving and enduring the shocks and bolts of electricity and it took all her strength. Amy's journey with Dr's and a search for answers began with an optimologist- no issues found. Then her PC- no issues. Her Dentist- no issues. Then finally a desperate trip to the ER discovered the problem- Trigeminal Neuralgia at all 3 branches. That means a blood vessel is resting on the Trigeminal nerve so when blood passes through the vessel it can put pressure on the nerve causing pain to the face. It's called the "suicide disease" for a reason, it's excruciating pain and finding treatment can be very hard and very expensive. It was determined Amy needed Micro Vascular Decompression surgery- brain surgery, but this was during covid so she's forced to wait months for the operation. Too much time to think about the complications...paralysis, cognitive impairment or it may not work at all. The surgery was performed Jan 3 2024 and the report stated the blood vessel resting on the nerve had split into 3 parts. Two of those parts were adhered to and almost encircled the nerve which caused scaring. The surgeon cut through the scaring and wrapped the blood vessel with a Teflon wrap to keep it padded. She awoke in the ICU very sick but hopeful. Up to this point Amy had been working full time, trying to keep her job and manage. She loved her job. It was a great company that paid her well and provided the opportunity to work from home. They were very understanding and accommodating during her illness but it's incredibly hard to manage pain. Amy was trying to keep it at bay with pain meds, anti seizure meds and anything else they would prescribe that could offer relief. Nothing worked. Brain fog sets in, her memory is suffering and she can't complete tasks as she once did... it's suggested she take FMLA. The blow is significant, emotionally and financially. Compensation for Amy's paycheck- none, so Carmen must now ramp up her hours, working 5am to 9pm SEVEN DAYS A WEEK to stay afloat. The savings they had has been spent on Dr's, hospitals, medications, countless office visits, gas, food, insurance, mortgage, utilities and life. They are officially in over their heads but have so much more swimming to do. January 16th the pain returns. 11 days of no pain only to have it return worse than before. Post op surgeon says everything looks fine and that recovery takes time After months of recovery with no relief and desperate for answers Amy discovers Dr Zimmerman at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix AZ. He's known worldwide for this type of surgery, maybe he can help. Mayo responds immediately with an appointment in December of 2024. Almost 1 full year after the first surgery and a year and a half since onset of symptoms. Too long suffering. Trip 1 to Mayo- Meet neurologist, MRI, labwork and new meds Trip 2 to Mayo- more tests Trip 3 to Mayo- Neuropsych results show significant impairment in problem solving and memory as a result from the pain, anxiety, depression and meds associated with Trigeminal neuralgia. Trip 4 to Mayo- Meets with PA because Dr Zimmerman broke his ankle. Surgery postponed until he's back in August but they confirm the tests show the vessel still remains on the nerve and that Amy is a high priority. Trip 5 to Mayo- scheduled for August 7th and surgery on Aug 11 at Mayo in Phoenix. Mayo says she'll need 3-4 weeks recovery and must remain there for follow ups. If the surgery isn't successful she'll be admitted into their pain management clinic for 4 weeks. Overwhelmed and terrified are understatements. They truly need support in every form. Amy has been away from her job since September 2024 and Carmen is working more than humanly possible to make sure she can afford to get Amy to Arizona with the possibly of spending 2 MONTHS in a hotel or rental. Can you imagine?! The gas, the food, the lodging...it adds up so fast and trust me, they've done everything and anything to make these trips possible... sleeping in the car, driving and not flying, packing food/drinks in coolers. It's been a struggle but they've done it with the same attitude they apply to every bad situation- we'll get through it, somehow it will work out. So I'm asking everyone I've ever met to put yourself in their shoes for a minute and contribute whatever amount you can! With your support they have a much better chance of making the trip to Phoenix for the surgery, staying long enough to recover and hopefully by the end be able to say "it worked out and we got through it!" I appreciate you taking the time to read my very long post!! If you're unable to donate financially, we would love your prayers, good juju and blessings for the trip and a successful outcome ❤️ Thank you!! Kandi
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