Hi, my name is Marni and I'm fundraising for my friend, Mindy. She's been dealing with Craniofacial Hyperhidrosis, which is not covered by insurance. In her words, here is her story: "I have suffered from CFH for years. I thought there was no cure. I thought it was something I would have to learn to live with. It was about 20 years ago, I noticed I began to sweat when I ate. It was incredibly embarrassing to eat in restaurants because, by the end of the meal, my face and head would be drenched in sweat. I worried what our waitress would think, I worried about the people in the restaurant and if I was grossing them out. I worried the people I was eating with would be uncomfortable seeing me sweating so badly. At home, it's no better; I sweat while I make meals, and sweat as I eat, constantly wiping my face and neck. As the years went by, it became progressively worse, to the point now I sweat from the time I get up in the morning until I go to bed. Anytime my body is moving, I will sweat, and only my face & head sweat. Every aspect of my life is profoundly affected. After I take a shower I begin to sweat, and as I'm slowly putting on my make-up I sweat. I have to sike myself up to clean the house or do laundry because I am sweating so bad from my face, neck & head that my shirt becomes drenched. I keep a hand towel nearby to wipe my face & neck. I look like I went 12 rounds in a boxing match when I'm done. When I go to the grocery store or run errands, I always wear a ball cap to try and cover up my excessive sweating. I try and wear something that looks like I could have just come from working out at the gym. So my clothes match what my face & head are doing. If I have to engage with someone, I make the excuse that I "just got done working out." In the dead of winter, I wear T-shirts and shorts to try and stay cool always thinking maybe this time it'll work. It never does but I try anyway. That way, If I have to engage with someone, and I'm dressed like summer in December, I tell them, "I used to live in Colorado, so I'm used to the cold," These are the constant excuses I use in public to try and mask why I'm sweating so much. I also keep a roll of paper towels in my car so I can tear off a few squares and put them in my pocket to wipe the sweat from my face and neck as I do my errands. I just have to hope no one notices the wet ring on my hat the sweat has soaked through (which is why I mostly wear white colored ball caps). At work, I walk from my desk to the breakroom, and the sweating immediately begins. I try and dash into the bathroom and dry my face, but it's useless. It's humiliating, uncomfortable and frustrating. I eat lunch at my desk because I have a little fan that blows on my face while I eat. Every day I try to get everything I need to get done first, so I can take a shower and then sit still for the rest of the day so I don't begin sweating again and feel the need to have to shower AGAIN. The thought of having to live like this for the rest of my life is completely disheartening. Some days I'm so frustrated I just want to sit and cry because there's nothing I can do to make it stop. My doctors have given me everything they possibly can to try and control my CFH. My local thoracic surgeon has advised me my case is very extreme. He also advised me I meet all the criteria to have an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS), and that's the ONLY solution to put an end to my sweating condition. I thought I was set, I had my referrals from my doctors, and we were looking into travel plans to have this procedure done. I spent 2 1/2 months doing research and finding a thoracic surgeon that would perform this delicate procedure. I thought I was at the finish line, only to have my insurance company contact me to apologize to me. It seems the 2 or 3 agents (one was a supervisor) that I spoke to should have told me hyperhidrosis conditions are not covered in our plan...at all. Defeat again. I contacted the surgeon's office to find out how much this procedure would cost if my insurance didn't cover it. Once I saw the numbers...well, it was a done deal." - Mindy I know so many people need help, but I honestly can't imagine how awful it must feel to have her condition, know there's a cure, and insurance not cover it! Not everything has to be deadly to profoundly affect your life and well-being. Can we please help her? Thank you so very much!! - Marni
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