Polson woman seeks help for surgery
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Rachel Edington
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POLSON — Local Polson entrepreneur Rachel Edington, owner of Gluten Free Mama, has been suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia, considered by the medical profession as the “suicide disease” due to its excruciatingly painful nature. She also suffers from Multiple Sclerosis.
Edington is scheduled to undergo Gamma Knife Brain Surgery next week, but it may be taken away if she and her husband can’t come up with about $22,000 by Monday, Nov. 11.
“This surgery will potentially give me my life back,” she said. Stanford Hospital generously covered 80 percent of the bill, but they want 20 percent — $22,000 — up front. “That is still more than we can afford,” Edington said. “This disease, along with MS, has completely taken any quality of life that I had left away. I no longer am a huge part of Gluten Free Mama, because I am so sick. My husband, office assistant and production team have been keeping me afloat, but the business has taken some hits this year with me not being a face for the company. My kids are suffering watching me have to be in bed all the time.”
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from the face to the brain. Even mild stimulation of the face — such as from brushing teeth or putting on makeup — may trigger a jolt of extreme pain. It has been described as among the most painful conditions known to mankind. The attacks are said by those affected to feel like stabbing electric shocks, burning, pressing, crushing, exploding or shooting pain that cannot be relieved.
Yet with her ever-present sense of humor, Edington noted that the very first Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day was on her birthday on Oct. 7. “Ironic, huh?”
Donations may be made at First Interstate Bank, Medical Account for Rachel Edington. An online Go Fund Me donation site has also been set up at: http://www.gofundme.com/53o2k0
