The Story of Holli

{Hope for Holli is a foundation supported by måke photographie, or in other words me, McKenna Åkebrand.}

I have known Holli for over 8 years. We met in the beginning of jr. high school and we danced together for many years after that. During those years, Holli was sick often. No one really understood what she was going through, and no one, not even Holli knew the effect that her health problems would have on her for years to come.

Holli is a fun, high spirited girl with a great sense of humor. She comes from a happy-go-lucky family and is the middle of three girls who are very close to eachother. She loves the color pink, hello kitty, Orem Owlz baseball team, and of course Edward Cullen ;). She's a girly-girl to the 5th degree, and a beautiful one at that.

Holli was diagnosed with Fibromylagia at the age of 15 and will have it for the rest of her life. She has had 27 surgeries before the age of 18 and over 100 IV's. Fibromyalgia, (also known as fibrositis, fibromyositis, and muscular rheumatism), is a chronic syndrome that causes pain and stiffness throughout the tissues that support and move the bones and joints. Muscle pain, tender points, and fatigue are the predominant symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Other symtoms include tingling of the skin, prolonged muscle spasms, weakness in the limbs, nerve pain, functional bowel disturbances, and chronic sleep disturbances.

In March of this year, Holli's suffered from complete kidney and renal failure. (read about here expierience here.) Before that very day she was uninsured and medical bills where putting Holli into over 30 thousand dollars in debt, and about to file for bankruptsy. Holli was working full time and had applied several times for insurance and each time was denied coverage. On every application form there is a section that lists numerous diseases, conditions, and family history medical information then asks you to check the boxes that apply to you. Fibromylagia is the first one listed and was the contributing factor for her being denyed coverage due to the nature of Fibro and it's contraversy. 'Many members of the medical community consider fibromyalgia a ‘non-disease’ because of a lack of abnormalities on physical exams, the absence of objective diagnostic tests, and extensive overlap with other proposed conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome' (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia). People like Holli can assure you that Fibro is real and there are many like her in the world fighting it's effects every single day.

The same day Holli's kidney's failed she was finally approved for health insurance. That was the beggining of approvals that was certantly not the end of being denied coverage.

Holli's kidney's had failed due to nerve damage she had received from five laporoscopic surgery's she had had over the past three years. They placed a catheter in her bladder for drainage since Holli's kidney's and bladder were still not working. In the first 24 hours there they had given her 11 IV bags. After about 3 days on IV's her doctor checked her and found that they had been giving her fluids way too quickly and caused her to become over hydrated. The fluids where no longer flushing into her bladder but going into all of her limbs. Her entire body was swollen and her legs were beggining to form blood clots. After a seven days the problem had finally been resovled and they were able to get Holli's kidney's functioning again. Although, her kidney's will never function entirely on their own.

A week after Holli left the hospital Holli went in for nerve tests to see if a type of 'pacemaker' for kidney's will proove effective. The tests were done in office but to place the nerve stimulators in her body surgically and the 'pacemaker' she will have to wear on her hip for the rest of her life.

Holli's week of wearing trial interstem worked and she was scheduled for surgery number 31 on June 8th.

Yet, a stream of bad news came from her insurance company. She first received news that the insurance would not cover her seven day renal failure hospital stay. To add to it, three days before her scheduled surgery she got news from her doctor stating that her insurance company did not approve the surgery, which to appeal can take up to 12 months, 12 months.

It is now September, still no word from her insurance company about moving forward with the surgery other than they received her appeal form, and 'to please stop faxing it in everyday.'

Holli is in my prayers every day. I know Heavenly Father has a plan for her and maybe through a little hope we can make things happen for her.

Please donate if you can, every dollar will help. If her insurance will not provide a way, then we can. And if anything, please keep Holli in your prayers.

Sincerly,
McKenna Åkebrand