My name is Tracy Seaman and I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, generally known as juvenile diabetes, at age 37 and it’s a daily battle.
I have the most loving and supportive family and friends that I want to grow old with.
In January of 2016 I was rushed to the ER with hypoglycemia in which my body was consumed with acid. I was in a coma for 4 days, had 5 dialysis transfusions and placed in the ICU for 8 days. This was not the first nor would it be the last ER visit I would have for hypoglycemia.
The damage to my body that I’m extremely worried about and concerns me most is the inability to tell when my sugars are dropping until it’s too late. Before 2016, I would feel typical hypoglycemic symptoms, and could react before the situation became dangerous. Since then I have not experienced these symptoms making it unsafe for me to be alone, or perform many actions normal to an adult my age.
There is a procedure now available in the US called “Islet Cell Transplantation”. Because it’s considered investigational insurance will not cover the procedure nor any cost associated with it. This procedure would allow my pancreas to produce insulin naturally, similar to a person without diabetes.
The costs associated with the procedure can include, but are not limited to the hospital stay, the surgery itself, the pancreas used for my procedure, the doctors and nurses that performed and are continually involved in the outcome, pre and post cost of the treatment, anti rejection medicines and continued evaluation for at least 5 years depending on my progress.
I would not be asking for your help unless I absolutely believed this treatment works and would save and change my life.
I have been watching the Islet Cell Transplantation progress for over a decade and it’s finally been perfected with amazing results. The treatment has been available for years in Europe however is considered to be “investigational” in the US.
There are a handful of medical institutions performing this procedure and Northwestern Medicine is one of them. I have completed all the necessary testing with Northwestern for a transplant so the next step is raising enough money to cover the expenses.
The Islet Cell Transplantation itself is in the upper $250,000.
I am deeply grateful for anything you can give to help me achieve this dream of being diabetes-free.
I am working with a non profit organization called Help Hope Live. They help organize fundraisers and collect the donations. Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, please click on the Give button.
For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.
Thank you for your support!
Tracy
