Hello! I hope your day is going awesome! Please select “See All” dropdown to read my medical story…I would like to begin by saying that my heart is full of gratitude, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my medical story. I am grateful for your willingness to lend your heart, hand, support, and prayers in my time of need. My name is Deidria, also known as DeeDee. While pursuing my M.A. in healthcare technology, I unfortunately experienced three car accidents within a short period of time, with the last accident occurring in 2021. One of the accidents significantly impacted my memory, knocking me unconscious and preventing me from regaining consciousness until several hours after arriving at the hospital. Medical professionals informed me that the near-fatal accident was due to the high-speed T-bone impact directly on the passenger’s side of the SUV, where I was located. I still cannot remember anything about the accident other than seeing a bright light flash quickly and then waking up in the hospital the next day. I am still being treated and monitored by a neurologist and currently seeing a neurophysiologist. I sustained several life-altering injuries and chronic conditions due to the impact this collision caused. After this catastrophic car wreck, I was involved in two more traumatizing car accidents, both of which were hit-and-run incidents.The dangerous impact and injuries that I sustained from each car accident led to a gradual, daunting, and painful decline in my health.
Unfortunately, I had to stop working due to continuous serious health complications, chronic symptoms from those complications, and injuries that my doctor could not communicate to my employer at the time of when I would be healed. My life has been dramatically altered. My doctor couldn’t provide my employer with a return-to-work date due to my injuries and the outcome of abnormal bloodwork that later revealed other serious health conditions. This led to the termination of my employment due to a lengthy unforeseen medical leave, leaving me to brave the storm and unnerving aftermath of severe health challenges and the loss of my employment as a software quality assurance advisor/consultant. Despite the challenges, I am persevering and maintaining my strength to fight for my survival, health, and healing. Creating this fundraiser to share my call for help is new to me. I have never had to do a fundraiser for myself before, but I have supported various fundraisers to help others in need. However, due to my failing health my savings depleted completely from continual medical bills, procedures, MRI’s, cat scans, x-rays, surgeries, etc… I believe that GOD put humanity on Earth to help support one another through tough times.
Every day, I battle several chronic illnesses and chronic pain, including a rare life-altering disease called Addison’s disease (severe adrenal insufficiency), in which my adrenal glands no longer function to protect my immune system. My body is unable to process any type of stress properly and is under constant attack on a daily basis with pain and discomfort. Stress can lead to a crisis or worse. Cushing’s syndrome, a rare condition that was induced by Addison’s disease, has resulted in long-term issues such as skin tearing, bruising, and red violaceous striae, among other debilitating symptoms that have limited my mobility and function.
My other chronic health conditions and symptoms are:
-Heart valve abnormality and septal infarct/myocardial.
-Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), unstable angina, tachycardia and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
-Chronic migraines with aura, resulting in watery eyes, bright eye flashes, and sitting in prolonged periods of darkness throughout the day.
-Short-term memory loss and cognitive brain impairment from brain trauma.
-Fibromyalgia/Neuropathy.
-RA (autoimmune disease).
-Telogen Effluvium scalp autoimmune disease causes significant hair loss.
-Gastroparesis (gastric paralysis), IBS, erosive gastritis, and erythematous mucosa in my digestive tract and upper intestine. The chronic pain from my GI issues prevents me from eating normally, forcing me to consume baby foods and pureed foods instead.
-Progressive Osteopenia
-Chronic fatigue syndrome
-Chronic Anemia (requiring 5-hour IV infusions)
-Chronic vein insufficiencyDeep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)/Blood Clots
-Asthma (breathing/oxygen/nebulizer treatments)
-Severe depression and anxiety
-Autonomous dysfunction; shaking/tremorsFunctional brain disorder
-Long haul/Post Covid-19 issues
My immune system is extremely weak, making me susceptible to catching illnesses easily. I have undergone numerous surgeries/procedures, including a leg surgery that later revealed a metal allergy.I also need vein surgery on both of my legs before I can have the metal removed to ensure proper healing. My symptoms are so debilitating that I must use a cane to walk every day, in addition to the need to wear a medical ID bracelet daily and keep an emergency injection kit now to prevent a fatal Addisonian crisis.
Moreover, I became displaced due to uninhabitable unsafe conditions that caused me to have to move or my health would worsen, and at this time. But I am unable to undergo the necessary surgery/procedures that I need due to the loss of my financial stability, which is out of my control at this time. Also, I faced unrelenting and painful life challenges due to the loss of multiple relatives. Within the past 3 years between each car accident there was a total of 13 of my loved ones that died who I was connected to. Two of my loved ones out of 13 people, included the sudden death of the love of my life in 2021 and the death of my Uncle/Godfather, who was the only Dad figure in my life, from cancer in 2022. Both, provided me with immense support through their encouragement and lots of humor during my challenging times as well as other support. Dealing with multiple losses has caused a profound void in my life, which contributed to my heighten depression and anxiety.
Furthermore, I battled a serious case of COVID-19 and experienced a serious IV contrast allergic reaction, leading to bacterial bronchitis and bacterial pneumonia, both of which posed a life-threatening risk. The relentless cycle of hospital/emergency room visits, urgent care visits, and overwhelming medical costs have left me with nothing, leaving me in dire need of assistance to cover the cost of the two leg procedures that I need and to ensure I have a safe place to stay while recovering from my surgeries. Any support extended to me would be a tremendous blessing, allowing me to take care of costs for preoperative and postoperative care for multiple surgeries that I need. Despite the major health concern of my adrenal glands no longer functioning, my doctors and specialists strongly predict that the surgeries I am seeking to raise funds for will significantly alleviate some of the other health issues I am currently facing and prolong my quality of life. For this, I am grateful and optimistic, as life is truly priceless. My goal is to make others smile. Many people that I know or just meet that say I give them hope, and I want to be able to give hope to others for as long as possible. I want to be there for my Godkids and kiddos, and my awesome young adults that I mentor. I love my kids and young mentees and I want to be able to continue providing them guidance as they grow; I want to be an example of someone who they see that doesn’t give up! I am a safe place for all of the young children and teens that I mentor, and my testimony can provide inspiration for them to keep their momentum going and a healthy pace no matter how challenging life can get.
Managing multiple chronic illnesses, coupled with the severity of my specific health condition, Addison’s disease. Due to Addison’s disease I am required to wear a medical ID bracelet and have readily access to an emergency injection kit in case of an Addisonian (adrenal) crisis, has been a challenging and taxing experience physically and mentally. It has been such a challenging journey that I had to start chronic illness therapy. Your support during this difficult time, in any measure, would be a blessing for the lifeline I need, affirming that compassion and empathy continue to shine brightly in this world. I am beyond grateful for your consideration and support. Chronic illnesses and pain, especially the diagnosis of traumatic depression and anxiety, have attempted to erode my faith and hope. However, I continue to persevere and not give up on my journey, believing that I will be able to raise awareness, foster hope, and secure the necessary resources for my surgeries. I rely on the daily strength and provision from GOD to propel me forward, secure a stable place to live despite the vulnerability of my health conditions, receive and promote healthy healing, nurture my mental health, and maintain my overall belief in the abundance of love, grace, and support in our shared humanity.
My monthly updates are listed below and photos uploaded if you would like to follow my health journey. On this journey, I am also open to participating in clinical trials or learning information that I may be unaware of, therefore, if you have any health resources related to Addison’s disease, effective adrenal gland surgery, Cushing’s Syndrome, or any of my other health conditions, please contact me via email at [email protected]. I am taking initiatives that bring personal awareness to rare diseases, specifically, Addison’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome, and the various issues and symptoms that are attributed that truly affect daily activities that are often taken for granted and many aspects of daily life that are invisible to others and fatal in most cases. Thank you so much again for reading my medical story and your caring consideration and contribution! Many blessings to you and your family!
2 Corinthians 9:8 And the Creator is able to make all grace to overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything you may have an abundance for every good deed.
Corinthians 13:13 But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Warm regards and heartfelt gratitude,
Deidria “DeeDee” B.
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Deidria’s health issues and concerns started prior to January 2024, however, January 2024 is the beginning of the year that her medical campaign efforts started so that is where her journey updates begin below:
UPDATE January 2024: Survived a severe episode of near-fatal bacterial pneumonia after falling ill with COVID-19.
UPDATE February 2024: Continuous GI pain. Diagnosed with bacterial intestinal overgrowth.
UPDATE March 2024: Treatment for SIBO
UPDATE April 2024: Registered with the National Organization of Rare Disorders/Diseases – NORD.
UPDATE April 2024: Began Chronic illness therapy.
UPDATE May 2024: Continued Chronic illness therapy and other treatments.
UPDATE May 2024: Urgent care visit due to infection.
UPDATE June 2024: Began another treatment for infection.
UPDATE June 2024: Had to stop Chronic illness therapy because the sessions became too expensive.
UPDATE July 2024: Health issues/concerns due to Iron levels dropping beyond normal levels.
UPDATE August 2024: Deidria was recently diagnosed with a debilitating form of erythematous mucosa and erosive gastritis. Biopsies are needed to determine what the redness and inflammation is stemming in her upper intestines from from the camera pill results.
UPDATE August 2024: Deidria currently needs 5-hour IV infusions due to complications related to her rare condition, Addison’s disease.
UPDATE September 2024: Painful and swollen blood vessels from a reaction after 5-hour IV infusions that Deidria had to have surgically removed.
UPDATE September 2024: Long haul/Post COVID-19 medical treatments administered by Long haul/Post COVID-19 specialist.
UPDATE October 2024: Upper intestines procedure and biopsies taken.
UPDATE October 2024: Researching more clinical trials related to chronic illnesses and rare health conditions.
UPDATE October 2024: Recent 3.5 hour neurophysiologist assessment continues to reveal cognitive impairment.
UPDATE October 2024: Started different treatment help with erosive gastritis and erythematous mucosa that was revealed from biopsies taken.
UPDATE November 2024: Appointment with sleep doctor to have sleep analysis for further evaluation.
UPDATE November 2024: Started treatment that involves 31 injections throughout head and neck with neurologist for chronic migraines with aura.
UPDATE November 2024: Advised by GI doctor that I need to start another SIBO treatment due to daily GI pain and discomfort.
UPDATE December 2024: Unexpected surgery due to abnormal growth that needed removal related to rare condition.
UPDATE December 2024: Started another SIBO treatment per doctor urgency due to my ongoing GI pain and discomfort.
UPDATE December 2024: First tentative vein surgery on 12/19 that will assist with issues related to my rare disease/ win insufficiency such as gland failure and proper circulation.
UPDATE December 2024: Unexpected biopsy procedure.
UPDATE December 2024: Have to hold off on vein surgery until 2025.
UPDATE January 2025: Internal bleeding issues that stemmed from unexpected biopsy procedure.
UPDATE February 2025: Second sleep study scheduled.
UPDATE February 2025: Began new medical research clinical trial.
UPDATE February 2025: Head and neck injection treatment for chronic migraines with aura.
UPDATE March 2025: CT Enterography to find out further details about the daily abdominal pain and discomfort.
UPDATE March 2025: Continued daily medical treatments and new treatments prescribed.
UPDATE March 2025: Through labs cardiologist discovered another different genetic elevated/advanced risk factor related to heart disease concerns. The genetic risk factor currently does not have a treatment, however, there are clinical trials being researched that may be beneficial to prevent further heart attack or stroke.
UPDATE March 2025: Cardiologist suggested to wear heart monitor again and added heart medication.
UPDATE April 2025: Continued sessions with medical pacing coach.
UPDATE April 2025: IV infusion treatment.
UPDATE May 2025: Neuropsychology appointment for brain fog from Post Covid-19 symptoms.
UPDATE May 2025: Several follow-up appointments.
UPDATE May 2025: During follow-up evaluation cardiologist prescribed new heart medication and advised of dose adjustment .and sent in request for CAT scan.
UPDATE May 2025: Head and neck injection treatment for chronic migraines with aura.
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Deidria “DeeDee” needs assistance raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Catastrophic Illness. Deidria “DeeDee” has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because 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, click on the Give button. If you need further information about Hope Help Live, please contact Help Hope Live at 800-642-8399.
