My sister, Bren, is facing newly diagnosed debilitating medical conditions, and urgently needs at least two surgeries to begin to stabilize. Multiple conditions currently qualify her for disability, but this is a long process; one that ultimately would only pay a fraction of what she needs to survive and support her kids, and she would then be unable to work at all if she collected disability. As many of you know, Bren just became a licensed marriage and family therapist. Right as she was about to step into this field that she passionate about and gifted in, her health (and world) came crashing down. This has been devastating to her, to now be facing losing her home, which would mean custody as well. She is a single mother of two and could lose her housing as early as June 1st if rent cannot be covered.

If you know Bren, you know that is an incredible mother to her 18-year-old daughter, Leah, and her 14-year-old son, Isaiah, who has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Isaiah is a bright, beautiful boy, but his condition brings daily challenges that require extraordinary emotional and physical energy. Bren continues to hold on with everything she has, but her body is breaking down — and she urgently needs support while she undergoes complex medical treatment, including managing 10 specialist doctors, in order to figure out how to best stabilize her body and health.

This fundraiser will help stabilize Bren’s housing situation and prevent the threat of eviction while she recovers from urgent surgeries, continues to care for her children, and searches for online telehealth jobs (all that her body can handle right now). Specifically, the $5,000 goal will help cover two months of rent and travel to and from her many medical appointments, since her car is no longer drivable.

If anyone in the Austin area has a car Bren could borrow temporarily, please reach out to her directly — that would be an incredible gift of mobility and peace of mind.

Every donation, no matter the amount, makes a tangible difference in keeping her family safe and together. If you’re not in a place to give financially, kind words and encouragement are deeply appreciated. If donations exceed the $5,000 goal, they will go toward uncovered medical costs, bills, or other urgent daily needs as they arise during recovery.

Here is a very helpful article on the reality of caregiver trauma (that she has been navigating alone, for years)

https://www.eileendevine.com/single-post/2019/01/05/managing-the-toll-of-caregiver-trauma

Medical context:

-Brenda has been diagnosed with severe POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), and is still undergoing testing for other types of dysautonmia. Her case is very complex, especially because of multiple pre-existing conditions that already caused Bren to live in constant pain. POTS causes her extreme elevated heart rate upon standing. It is unrelated to anxiety (although POTS can worsens anxiety); what happens physiologically is explained in the video below. The more she tries to “push through”, the more extreme the symptoms are, and recovery time can last for full days sometimes. She experiences intense brain fog, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, headaches, blurry vision, pain, GI shutdown, and more. Simple tasks like showering can cause physical collapse. It has left her unable to function consistently and has complicated her recovery efforts, as she also has an autoimmune blood disorder, fibromyalgia, and more.

Watch video here.

https://youtu.be/ch6ipV3M4yo?si=vBIYoWeRmTcoRGgj

Surgeries:

-Endometriosis excision, and to assess a viable path forward for her next surgery, as well as help alleviate some of her pain.

-Surgery to repair multiple severe pelvic organ prolapses, which will follow soon after.

-Doctors believe both surgeries are critical to help manage the severity of her POTS and help her get her life back.

"But now, this is what the Lord says—

he who created you, Jacob,

he who formed you, Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..."

Isaiah 43:1-3a