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Elissa Hanneman is a wife to Chad, mom of 2 teenagers (Joel and Tia), sister, daughter, niece and friend who has battled a chronic illness—Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)-Vascular Type—for the majority of her life. Elissa grew up facing dislocations, various injuries and the need for frequent stitches, all due to her connective tissues malfunctioning. Diagnosed at age 8, Elissa has had to live life a bit differently. At the age of 23, Elissa’s colon ruptured when she was 28 weeks pregnant, requiring the delivery of a very premature son. Elissa then fought for her life, spending weeks in a coma, recovering from devastating complications.
Since 2002, Elissa has had chronic issues with her digestive system. Frequent hospitalizations became normal, dealing with blockages and ileuses. Elissa has had many other EDS related complications over the years, with various body systems. In January 2019, Elissa went into the hospital again, finding she had another bowel blockage. After meeting a new surgeon, Elissa was given hope that her digestive system could be repaired through a surgery, which would hopefully help her to live without further difficulties. On March 4, 2019, Elissa had the surgery, which seemingly went well…for just under a week. At that point, a rollercoaster ride started, with many ups and downs, as well as the need for countless additional surgeries and procedures, along with frequent ICU stays. Elissa has been discharged a few times from the hospital to either go home or to a rehabilitation center, but has ended up back in the hospital after a few days. Nearing the one year anniversary of her surgery, Elissa remains admitted. When doctors in Colorado had exhausted all options, Elissa was presented with the possibility of traveling to Omaha, Nebraska, to see if she qualified for a full bowel and liver transplant. Though the process will be challenging and long (needing to stay in Nebraska for 3-6 months after transplant), Elissa and Chad have decided this will be their next adventure.
Elissa has battled her illness with the support of family and friends, but the trip to Nebraska will be extremely trying. After co-pays and insurance deductibles are paid, the funds will be utilized towards housing costs and caregiver funding to have someone stay with Elissa while she is so far away from home.
To help with the financial burden of Elissa’s expenses, a fundraising campaign in her honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 36 years. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the Midwest/West Transplant Fund and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider a contribution.
For credit card contributions, please select the “GIVE” button on this page or call 800.642.8399.
Or:
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in memo section:
In honor of Elissa Hanneman
Please send to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087
Thank you for your prayers, support, and generosity. Keep an eye on this campaign page because we will be planning some fundraising events soon and posting updates regularly.
Gratefully,
Kyla Bernstein, Elissa’s sister
Elissa Update: May 19th @ 9:15am
Abscess and infection are better, now trying another procedure to make things more manageable again.
It's been nice with Elissa back to her normal cheerful self the last few days. The hardest days are when she is confused, so the last few days have been a great blessing.
Elissa was just taken back into the OR for another procedure to trying and flatten out some of the skin around her open wound to make a better surface for her bag to adhere to. We are praying this will allow bags to stay on better and maybe longer. Fewer leaks and patches between scheduled bag changes would make life so much easier and maybe even allow more activity/getting out of bed and participating in things again.
This should be a short procedure and a few days at the hospital to manage the pain from this procedure and hopefully back home before too long. Pray the meds don't cause more of the confusion in the days to come.
As before this is all just to make things more manageable until the transplant. Ultimately, we are praying the transplant will come sooner than later and that would allow Elissa to have her normal life back.
Thanks again for all the support and prayers.
Elissa Update—Monday, April 27, 2020
Well, we have some really good news and some requests for prayer:
The good:
-Liss has been home for about a week! She’s been keeping busy with tons of appointments and gets her bag changed at the hospital 3x/week outpatient.
-The whole Hanneman family has stayed healthy from the covid virus, despite the hospital having several cases! Please continue praying for God’s protection over this!
The bad:
-Liss’ ostemy bag leaks quite often and is causing a lot of pain and skin breakdown, along with bleeding. Chad and Elissa are having to deal with additional bag changes and patches outside of the times at the hospital. This unfortunately is the reality until after a transplant, and is a major struggle.
Specific prayer requests:
-Please pray for Elissa’s bag to hold for longer than just a few hours. She had it replaced this morning, and it’s already leaking badly tonight.
-Please also pray for the upcoming transplant, that it would happen sooner than later, and that it would go so well. Additionally, please pray that the staff at the hospital in Nebraska would be absolutely incredible!
-After the transplant, Liss will have to be on a ventilator and NG Tube, and will have another ostemy bag for a year. This is causing so, so much anxiety and a rough road is ahead. Please lift her up to have God give her the strength and peace that only HE can.
Fundraising:
-As of today, we have started a medical fundraising account to help during the transplant time. These funds will largely be used to allow Chad to be with Elissa during a portion of the 3-6 month stay as he won’t be paid while taking time off. The link to her account is: helphopelive.org You can make a donation through this link or by check, and all donations are tax deductible. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you as always for partnering with us in prayer and for following along ❤️
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Love you guys. In our prayers daily.
Jeff Akers
Love you my friend you and the family are always in my thoughts.
Shaavon Sagrillo
Lots of live
Natalie Schreibet
Praying for you❤
Sharon McDaniel
❤️
Karina Murphy
You got this Liss!
eric bergman
Elissa, Chad, and the entire Hanneman family are in my thoughts and prayers for good health and a very successful transplant surgery! May the Lord guide the surgeons and support staff as well! Be blessed.
Damian
Love and hugs Elissa! We are hoping you get your transplant soon. Prayers continue daily over the miles. Love and miss you.
Kay Hanneman
I am sending my love and positive thoughts to you!
Jordan Churchill Pevear
Hang in there. Sending love.
Randi Zgol
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in memo:
In honor of Elissa M Hanneman
Mail to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
Suite 100
100 Matsonford Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Donor preference is important to us. Please specify in writing if you wish for your name or donation amount to be kept private.
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