May 9, 2023
Hi family! There is so much to update you on!
I took time away from fundraising to put more focus on my schooling. It was important that I gave my attention to my Medical Billing and Coding classes as they are super challenging. I am now at my halfway mark and I am feeling so excited!
It has been 638 days since my coma. My family and I did not know what would happen to me health-wise, but I thank God every day that I can continue to push for positive progress. I have officially started physical therapy. We are working on my core and upper body strength as those will help me be able to transfer from surface to wheelchair. I wish I could say this is something that will happen instantly but I know it will take some time. That is okay. Rome was not built in a day.
Also, I have gotten my boots to help with my foot drop in both of my feet. They are pretty sporty. I got them in purple with hot pink velcro straps. I always say since I was born different, I might as well stand out! lol
Lastly, I want to thank those who have donated and will donate. Being about to have my own transportation for my wheelchair is my biggest dream and with your help, I can accomplish it!
- Samantha aka "Mantha"
January 4, 2023
Hello everyone!
I want to first start off my thanking the donors for their donations and participations. With each donation I am getting closer to my goal!
As far as things for me medically, things have slowed down due to the winter months. With having MD and running the risk of RSV with my continued hypoxia episodes, I have been bundled inside my home. I do not want to the run the risk of catching and virus or being in pain more than normal because of the cold weather. This still does not stop me from staying as active as I can physically. I've been incorporating daily exercise to maintain my strength as much as I can. My big focus right now is preparing my body for upcoming surgery and ensuring my immune system is strong.
I had a Sprit Night at my local pizzeria that was not as successful as I thought it would've been but that is okay! Every month I will be hosting a "Pick a date to donate" even on my Facebook page, Rolling With Mantha. It's a fun way to collect donations for this campaign.
I pray with the warmer weather this spring I will be able to get back to doing my fist in person event. Stay warm everyone!
-Samantha
November 19, 2022
Hi everyone! Hope all is well. Thank you for your continued support and donations. The next phase in my health care is getting bariatric surgery. I have changed my eating habits as I prep for it. I have not gotten a surgery date but will keep you all posted soon.
As far as physical therapy, I have had to push it back as I am back in home health for a hematoma that was found. Asking for will wishes and positive thoughts.
#rollingwithmantha will continue to staying positive and rolling on!
- Samantha
November 11, 2022
Hello Friends. Hope All is well.
Guess what?! I received my new wheelchair! I am overly excited and thankful. Please have a look at my uploaded pictures to see it. It is an awesome chair. I am able to tilt to release pressure from my bottom to avoid pressure sores. I have a head rest finally! I am overwhelmed with joy.
Thank you to all that continue to support me and my fundraiser.
November 4, 2022
Hi Friends! I got great news. My wheelchair will be here this Tuesday. I can not wait to post pictures.
October 18, 2022
I got the call! My wheelchair is 100% approved! It took a little working with insurance but it's approved. I will be taking delivery of it in a few weeks! I can not wait to post pictures!
October 17, 2022
Hey Friends! Happy Monday. I got an update on my chair. It was approved! However there is a current issue between insurance and the DME company so until it's cleared, I will not have any updates.
If it is not cleared I will have to find another company to get my wheelchair. It's not the outcome we want but it's how things work sometimes.
- Samantha
October 6, 2022
Hey Friends! I got some potentially awesome news today. Since everything has happened last year, I was very fortunate to have gotten a loaner wheelchair from a local VFW. This was due to my husband's military unit Family Readiness Leader. Well, that wheelchair caused me to have feet injuries due to my major foot drop and me needing a chair tailored to my physical needs (repositioning to prevent wounds, leg elevation and so on).
I was referred to a DME company by my insurance back in May. Since then I we have been working with getting all of the proper paperwork to submit for an approval. It finally got all submitted yesterday... I got the word today that I will get a yay or nay if it is approved no later than this coming Tuesday. This is great news!
September 24, 2022
Hi HHL family! Hope you are having a beautiful day. It's around 60ºF here. Can you believe it's fall?! I know... it may be colder where you are reading this from but for me with having MD, it's cold.
Recently I visited my neurologist for an Electromyography and a Nerve Conduction Study. Neither of these test feel good. An EMG involves shocking to test muscle sensation and the Never Conduction study helps to find problems with nerves like a pinched nerve. From what the doctor explained while conducting the test, my left leg has little to no sensation and my right has medium sensation. The good news is nothing has spread to my arms too heavily. There is a presence but I am very thankful that it's not that bad. Every little bit of strength I have helps!
Hope you enjoy the rest of your day friend.
-Samantha <3
September 18, 2022
I wanted to thank those of you that have supported my fundraiser so far. From the donations, to sharing and even down to providing me ideas! Every ounce of support means so much. - Samantha
August 31, 2022
August 13th was my 28th birthday. This year I was lucky enough to rent a wheelchair accessible van through Mobility works. It was really nice to be able to travel down to Charleston to see family that I have not seen since I had gotten sick! Please see my album to enjoy some pictures!
August 21, 2022
Follow me on my social medias!
Tick Tock: https://www.tiktok.com/@manthayoum
https://www.facebook.com/Samanthayoumans413PD
August 21, 2022
Hey Hey! Hope you are doing well. Thanks for keeping up with my updates. When II came home in January I started having this issue where my nose would drain constantly. It was as if I had a sinus infection that turned for the worse. After multiple antibiotics and steroids I finally was sent to an ENT office where they discovered that I had secretions and a large buildup of nose polyps. 8/21 I had sinus surgery. I am still recovering but dealing with nose bleeds and really bad muscle aches.
The attached video is of the wheelchair van that was rented for this past weekend for my birthday. This was the first time I have been out in a larger public setting in my wheelchair with my family. It was super awesome to see them and enjoy time with my husband while he was home.
August 10, 2022
08/09/2022Results from Pulmonary….
My o2 Prior to my breathing test was at 96%. this was without being on the 2 L of oxygen that I have stopped wearing almost a month ago.
After completing my breathing test the doctor discussed that at this time it is not recommended that I am clinically taken off of oxygen. This is not meaning I have to start wearing it again but if there is any instance where I need to put it on during the day I have to do so. There was a little improvement but not a significant amount.
Last year Covid SARS 19 did a number on my lungs and they are still pretty scarred. At night I still will sleep with my trilogy machine and my oxygen to ensure that I do not become hypoxic. I will have an upcoming sleep study for one night without the oxygen but will still wear my trilogy as it helps open my lungs. This will see if I am OK to not wear oxygen at night.
This is not bad news at all. I’m not at where I wanted to be but a small improvement is a big step for me.
August 6, 2022
Here are a few new updates on what's going on....
1. Remember when I said I went to see a new neurologist? WELL.. he has taken more interest in what has happened to me. He completed an in office strength test, a sensation prick test and a reflex test. From everything we did he agreed that an EMG test needs to be conducted. An Electromyography will measure my my muscle and nerve health. HOPEFULLY this will help with my current condition..
2. I applied and got accepted to participate in the South East Catastrophic Illness Fund with Help Hope Live. This campaign will be for an accessible wheelchair van. I will be posting about it soon. I am still working on how I'd like to campaign and create events I can throw here in my city.
3. The EXCITING news.... I have been posting little updates on my wheelchair journey... my Doctor finally signed off my paperwork and the last step is for insurance to say build it! I am very confident there should be no issues.
It's my deepest thanks to those that continue to pray for me and keep me in your thoughts. Thank you to my support system it's you guys that keep me going.
July 30, 2022
Hello everyone! Thank you for taking the time out to visit my campaign with Help Hope Live. As some of you may know, I have been fighting an uphill battle since being diagnosed with Covid SARS 19 on August 10, 2021.
A brief recap: When I was diagnosed, my husband was at work. My mother was on the phone with me as everything was happening. I did not know how sick I was at the time. The week prior to contracting Covid, I did not have any symptoms of having Covid Sars 19. After I was rushed to the hospital by ambulanced, a nurse came into my E.R. room and explained that I had tested positive. After speaking to me, she then explained to my motherthat the neither the breathing treatments she was giving me nor the BiPAP were helping my oxygen level to get higher. It was then that the E.R doctor would be came into my room and spoke to my mom. He said that it was immergent that I be taken to the Critical Care ICU unit. It was there that I was placed on a respirator as well as placed in a medically induced coma. Scary right? When I woke up seven days later, I had no feelling in the lower part of my left leg. After spending days in the hospital and participating in daily physical therapy, I still had no feeling in the lower part of my left leg. After numerous tests while still in the hospital, I was told that Covid had sped up the muscle weakness due to me having Muscular Dystrophy since birth and now there was severe nerve damage as well. It was then that I was told that walking would be something I may not do again. This means that I will spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair by the doctor's standards.
I then spent time from September 2021 to January of this year in and out of acute rehabilitation and assisted living facilities with no luck of getting better. With these stays I became hypoxic a few times going back into ICU again where I developed additional health complications.
Since then, I have been working diligently with home health, my team of doctors and my support team to recover. However, transportation can be difficult. Here where I live in Columbia SC, we have a bus system called DART that caters to those of all disabilities as long as their qualifications are met to use the system. I have qualified and I use Dart as much as I am allowed to. nfortunately, Dart has a limit on how far they can take their clients. This prohibits me from being able to see doctors that are necessary for continued care after being sick with Covid. There are some really amazing opportunities that I have found that may be able to help me walk again but without the proper transportation........ I can not get there.
This campaign is to raise funds for an accessible vehicle. A vehicle where I am able to travel freely to doctor appointments and also to physical therapy appointments in hopes of walking again. There are also out of state facilities that have amazing treatment options. Having a personal accessible vehicle would provide me a safer option to travel since I am in a wheelchair. This will also allow me to not be so confined to my home due to such limited transportation options.
