Hello, my name is Gary. I met my wife when I was 23 I’m now 41 and my wife Marlene is 44. We met in September of 2006, we were married in March of the same year, we have been married almost 17 years.
Marlene was born with hydrocephalus, a condition that prevents brain fluid from properly draining, and must be removed with artificial drains called shunts. her doctors said she would be dead by age 11. Then by 18, and again by 21. She went to college when her doctors said it would be impossible. She earned her bachelor’s in telecommunication and broadcasting just under 4 years.
In the course of Marlene’s life, she has had 31 shunt revisions (brain surgeries). These were to repair or replace her shunts, due to clogs or infections in the brain.
At age 11 she had her first revision on her shunt from infection. From the time she was 15 thru 18 she had 10 revisions due to infection or equipment failure, she had to have a second shunt installed. From the age of 20 thru 23 she had 12 more revisions while she was in college with little recovery time. As you age your brain fluid becomes snowy. Brain debris floating around and is circulated out. If you have shunts like Marlene does this snow can clog your shunt tubes. In 2008 she had 8 surgeries back to back because her shunts kept becoming infected, her shunts we’re re routed from her abdomen to her heart. This re route ended much of the risk of infection because the shunts are now much shorter. With advancements in shunt technology Marlene had programmable shunt valves installed.
Even with all this Marlene never gave up, or walked away from her faith. When she was young she sang in the church choir, was an active and friendly youth, and had many dreams and friends.
We married in 2006, after the revisions in 2008, Marlene lost her sense of smell, her ability to drive due to spacial perception, and developed agoraphobia. She also developed chronic pain and nerve damage, and experimental migraine medication damaged her teeth.
After all of this, she never lost her faith, never is depressed, and always has a cheerful disposition. Marlene still sings, loves to travel and we were able to fix her teeth which really helped her self-esteem. People regularly call her for prayer, and call her inspiration.
You’d think that would be enough for one woman. But Marlene was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2022. She had two surgeries on her right breast, both times removing a large mass. Marlene is now suffering from radiation burns from the treatment. And she is still praising the Lord!
However, working extended bouts of overtime make it difficult for me to care for Marlene. And credit cards only go so far, I’m trying to raise money to pay off the debt we’ve incurred over the years paying for her heath. Marlene has good health insurance but her revisions were $80,000 each. We have racked up about $90,000 of personal debt in personal loans and credit cards.
We need help, I’ve worked as much as I can, and I need help digging out. If you can help, we would be eternally grateful.
Thank you and God bless you.