First of all we want to say thank you to all of you who have read the blog, shared it, sent lovely notes to us and to Lauren and to those of you who have donated to her.
She let us know that she was blown away by the kind and encouraging words that came her way and just knowing that everyone is pulling for her helps so much.
One thing we did want to let you know that we found out that the Paypal donations do list names on their account, but Lauren and Fabian do not access that account. So it is still anonymous to her and Fabian. The funds are deposited from the Paypal donation account directly into her Wells Fargo donation bank account, where it appears as a lump sum. It was brought up that people may want to verify deposits were received and/or that they would eventually end up in the donation bank account. We totally understand. So if anyone would like proof of any kind of payment to her bank account, we can provide it. Since she is not a 501c3, it is not tax-deductable, but we understand if people want to be sure that the funds are getting to her. You can send an email to helplaurenheredia@gmail.com with any questions about this.
And now for the update on her health. She had an appointment yesterday with the local gastroenterologist/surgeon to discuss the feeding tube surgery. At this time, they have decided not to proceed. The surgeon explained the feeding tube is a temporary solution to a permanent problem. The diseases in her intestines only compound the risks of the procedure and management of the feeding tube. This is an unexpected set-back, but hopefully another option has come up. The surgeon's suggestion instead is gastric electrical stimulation which works much like a pace maker for the heart but instead on the stomach. However, they do not do that type of procedure in NM so he would have to refer her to another doctor outside of the state. Although Johns Hopkins is already scheduled, this doctor suggested the placement of the device to be within driving distance for follow ups. She was certainly hoping to have some progress made before heading east in May. This does not mean that she won't be going to Johns Hopkins, just that she may see another specialist within a state away (perhaps Texas, for example) first who may work with Johns Hopkins. With the change in direction coming from her doctor, she has decided to take a little time to refocus herself on her family and let the doctors work out the logistics. In a weeks time or so we should have more information about her next steps. That'll give her a chance to make the best, most efficient, & most cost effective treatment plan for herself and her family.
We will keep you all updated here. Again, thank all of you so much for your continued thoughts and prayers. It means so much to her and to us.
Heredia Family
Lauren, Fabian and 'Cito
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
How to Help Lauren
As many of you know, Lauren has been fighting several diseases for years now. The last seven years have been a long journey of medical tests, diagnoses, a few steps forward and many steps back. Most of you know that she has type 1 diabetes, which she treats with an insulin pump because she needs extremely precise amounts of insulin. What we know now is that she also has what's called Schmidt's Syndrome or Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type 2. For a variety of reasons, including the time it took to find this diagnosis, she has had several complications that have slowed her ability to simply stabilize.
One of those complications is gastroparesis (or a condition that causes the stomach to delay emptying, though there is no obstruction). This complication, along with having Celiac disease and allergies to several other types of foods, has caused her most pressing problem. She is no longer absorbing enough nutrients to sustain her. She has lost so much weight in fact, that she cannot properly apply the insulin pump so that insulin is going into her, leading to the frustrating side effect of constant high blood sugars, but eating next to nothing. It's due to this that her doctors have decided to insert a "J-Tube," also known as a feeding tube, to help her gain some weight and get to a more stable place. This tube is inserted into the abdomen and nutrients are sent in directly. She can still eat with this tube, but it will help ensure she gets the nutrients she has not been getting. This is a temporary plan.
At this point, however, her doctors in New Mexico have decided she simply needs better care. They have been recommending for awhile now that she go to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, which specializes in Schmidt Syndrome and see a specific doctor. He specializes in Gastrointestinal problems, but is an integrated medicine doctor. Her doctors in New Mexico strongly feel that he is the best doctor in the country to help Lauren get to a better place.
Lauren has been reluctant to do this because travel is incredibly hard on her and, perhaps her biggest concern, the cost. She is on disability and Medicare and is not sure at this point if they will cover a doctor so far out of her network. Additionally she will have to stay in Baltimore for some time as tests are run and options are tried. Her husband, Fabian, will be there with her for as long as he can thanks to the Family Medical Leave Act, but it is not paid time off. They have a wonderful seven-year old son, Fabian Jr (or, 'Cito to those that know him), who they have to provide for and other bills that won't go away simply because they are out of state. The fear of the massive amount of debt they will go into is a huge stress on her and stress is the last thing she needs.
More than likely she will need a surgery in the next few weeks to insert the feeding tube, but hopefully that will get her to a more stable place for travel.
A few of the people who know about this situation were asking how they could help. Of course, she needs your prayers and well wishes, and perhaps an encouraging email or phone call. But if you want to help out financially we have set up an account just for that purpose.
There are a lot of ways to contribute. We've set it up with Paypal so you can donate directly from the link on this page. Or you can click this button that is also on the top right hand of the blog page:
You can also send checks made payable to Lauren or Fabian Heredia to:
Lauren & Fabian Heredia
PO Box 942
Carlsbad, New Mexico
88221
And finally, you can go into any Wells Fargo location and ask to make a deposit into the Benefit Account for Lauren Heredia .
All of this will be anonymous, unless you mail a check directly to her, because we don't want anyone to feel obligated or worried if they want to contribute but only have $5 to donate. Trust us when we say, every amount will help, no matter how big or small. So anything deposited into the account directly via Paypal or a visit to Wells Fargo will remain anonymous.
Thank you for any help you can give. Lauren will continue to post on her own blog, but because she may be too tired, we will continue to post updates here as well. And who are "we"? We are her family and we'll keep you up to date.
Thanks and God Bless!
One of those complications is gastroparesis (or a condition that causes the stomach to delay emptying, though there is no obstruction). This complication, along with having Celiac disease and allergies to several other types of foods, has caused her most pressing problem. She is no longer absorbing enough nutrients to sustain her. She has lost so much weight in fact, that she cannot properly apply the insulin pump so that insulin is going into her, leading to the frustrating side effect of constant high blood sugars, but eating next to nothing. It's due to this that her doctors have decided to insert a "J-Tube," also known as a feeding tube, to help her gain some weight and get to a more stable place. This tube is inserted into the abdomen and nutrients are sent in directly. She can still eat with this tube, but it will help ensure she gets the nutrients she has not been getting. This is a temporary plan.
At this point, however, her doctors in New Mexico have decided she simply needs better care. They have been recommending for awhile now that she go to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, which specializes in Schmidt Syndrome and see a specific doctor. He specializes in Gastrointestinal problems, but is an integrated medicine doctor. Her doctors in New Mexico strongly feel that he is the best doctor in the country to help Lauren get to a better place.
Lauren has been reluctant to do this because travel is incredibly hard on her and, perhaps her biggest concern, the cost. She is on disability and Medicare and is not sure at this point if they will cover a doctor so far out of her network. Additionally she will have to stay in Baltimore for some time as tests are run and options are tried. Her husband, Fabian, will be there with her for as long as he can thanks to the Family Medical Leave Act, but it is not paid time off. They have a wonderful seven-year old son, Fabian Jr (or, 'Cito to those that know him), who they have to provide for and other bills that won't go away simply because they are out of state. The fear of the massive amount of debt they will go into is a huge stress on her and stress is the last thing she needs.
More than likely she will need a surgery in the next few weeks to insert the feeding tube, but hopefully that will get her to a more stable place for travel.
A few of the people who know about this situation were asking how they could help. Of course, she needs your prayers and well wishes, and perhaps an encouraging email or phone call. But if you want to help out financially we have set up an account just for that purpose.
There are a lot of ways to contribute. We've set it up with Paypal so you can donate directly from the link on this page. Or you can click this button that is also on the top right hand of the blog page:
You can also send checks made payable to Lauren or Fabian Heredia to:
Lauren & Fabian Heredia
PO Box 942
Carlsbad, New Mexico
88221
And finally, you can go into any Wells Fargo location and ask to make a deposit into the Benefit Account for Lauren Heredia .
All of this will be anonymous, unless you mail a check directly to her, because we don't want anyone to feel obligated or worried if they want to contribute but only have $5 to donate. Trust us when we say, every amount will help, no matter how big or small. So anything deposited into the account directly via Paypal or a visit to Wells Fargo will remain anonymous.
Thank you for any help you can give. Lauren will continue to post on her own blog, but because she may be too tired, we will continue to post updates here as well. And who are "we"? We are her family and we'll keep you up to date.
Thanks and God Bless!
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