Tracey Porreca

Help Tracey Regain Some Independence

Those who know Tracey Porreca know she’s struggled with health issues her entire life. She was born with Hypophosphatasia (a rare metabolic bone and kidney disorder) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (a rare connective tissue disorder that causes joint and skin fragility), but recent challenges have made it a struggle to live the life she lived only a couple of years ago. (click SEE ALL for more info)

She contracted COVID in June of 2020 which led to many new diagnoses including Post Covid Syndrome, ischemic brain lesions, polyneuropathy, and POTS (which causes heart issues). She had just been fitted for a custom manual wheelchair before COVID, and was figuring out how to manage everything from bathing to cooking to getting around independently, but then in July of 2021 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, for which she is still being treated.

Tracey has been an advocate for others for 30 years. She has traveled around the country speaking and assisting others. She is a veteran of the US Navy, a freelance photographer who lives in Alaska and has photographed the northern lights and sled dogs. She is a mother who has camped, gardened, and enjoyed all Alaska has to offer. Now she finds it a struggle to even go outside her own front door because she can no longer walk independently.

Because of her double mastectomy and polyneuropathy, Tracey finds it difficult to use her manual wheelchair and has been approved for a custom power chair through insurance. However, these chairs are large and heavy and she does not have a vehicle made to transport her in this chair. Because of this, she is looking at a portable power chair for the times she is able to get out. A wheelchair van would be ideal, but these can be $30,000-$60,000. A portable power wheelchair is much less, but insurance will not cover these.

She is also having to travel about 350 miles each way once a month for treatments, stay in a hotel, eat out, and cover so many copays and out of pocket medical expenses insurance just doesn’t cover. She is unable to work, and her husband has missed work because of all the trips for treatment. She also has developed a hearing loss and is in need of evaluation and possible hearing aids, something else insurance does not cover.

To help with this financial burden not covered by insurance, a fundraising campaign in Tracey’s 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 almost 40 years. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live and administered for illness-related expenses only.

Your donations will help in many ways. First, it will allow Tracey to purchase a portable power wheelchair so that she may leave her home and get out in the community without having to purchase a very expensive wheelchair van. Donations will also help her continue her treatments by paying for hotel rooms, food, and gas for these trips. Finally, it will allow her to be evaluated for hearing aids, and possibly purchase them.

Donations to Help Hope Live can help ease the financial burden faced by the family and allow Tracey and her husband to once again enjoy life in Alaska.

Family and friends of Tracey Porreca are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Catastrophic Illness.

Tracey 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.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!