I saw your website and wanted to see if you assist individual families that are struggling to keep their house, car and get catch up on bills due to medical expenses that we paid to get me seen by specialist at the Mayo Clinic.
My name is Katrina Phillips, and I am 44 years old. I have been married for 16 years and have 2 daughters, ages 8 and 11 years of age. I was diagnosised with Fibromyalgia in 1996. I kept going, despite the chronic pain and additional issues that come from Fibromyalgia. But my health took a turn for the worse 4 years ago. My doctor suggested that I have a sleep study, because I was so fatigued all the time and I could not remember anything for 5 minutes.
The overnight sleep study and daytime latency test showed that I had a severe sleep disorder called Idiopathic Hypersomnia.
I have been to 3 "sleep study specialist" in Birmingham, Alabama and each time the test results were the same over the last 4 years.
My last doctor put me on stimulants to keep me awake during the day. I have tried every stimulant on the market and the only one that works for me is Adderall. So about 3 years ago I started taking Adderall. This helped me stay awake during the day and I felt safe to drive. After 3 years on this medication, the dosage had been increased over time due to my body getting use to the dose and I started to feel sleepy again. So in the last 2 years I was on 80mg's of Adderall a day. Little did I know that this was effecting my heart.
I went to the Mayo Clinic to find out what was causing my Hypersomnia and prayed that I would find a solution and we could treat the source of the problem and not just throw me on pills, that have given me permanent tachycardia. They were awesome at the Mayo Clinic and their sleep study was the same as the other 4, I never left stage 2.
They ruled out everything/anything that could possibly cause Hypersomnia, and to my disappointment; determined that the Hypersomnia was being caused due to having Fibromyalgia. So I found the source, but there is no treatment for this except to stay on stimulants. There is no cure for Fibromyalgia, so until one is found; I will always have Hypersomnia. While I was at the Clinic, they ran several heart test on me and diagonsised me with tachycardia. So now I have to wear a watch and keep up with my heart rate throughout the day.
We did not have enough money in savings to pay for my trip to the Mayo Clinic, so I did something very stupid. I got a title loan on my 2006 Hyundia Sonta for $3,000.00. We got behind on our mortgage, my husband's car payment and most of our bills. We have been given food from several of the local church ministries.
I am in desperate need of $4,000.00. If I don't pay my title loan off at $3,337.89 soon, I will lose my car. We have lost our car insurance, my husbands life insurance and have had our power and other utilities cut off several times. Our checking account is negative and we just don't have any where else to turn.
I feel so bad, this is all my fault due to my chronic health issues. My 2 daughters have been terribly effected by this. They have had to go with me to pick up food from churches, they have gone with me as I pawned all of my jewelry, except for my wedding ring. They are showing behavioral and sleep problems due to the constant stress of not knowing if we are going to get kicked out of our home or lose our cars.
Children should not have to deal with such issues at such a young age.
I pray that you can help me or possibly get me to someone that could. I will give any type of documentation needed to show that everything I have told you about is true. I have the contract with the title loan company, I have all of my medical records from the Mayo Clinic as well as my physicians in Birmingham, Alabama.
I feel that if we can just at the very least be able to pay off my title loan and get our checking account back into good standing, that this would take a large amount of stress off of us. We are in jeopardy of losing both cars, and if we lose them, my husband will not be able to get to work and I will not be able to drive 18 miles to my parents house to be with my dad and help out with his care.
I appreciate your time and consideration and pray that you will be able to help us.
Thank You,
Katrina Phillips
