terminal ain't terrible.
My Instagram tagline used to say it all… “I’m that girl who jumps up and down to fun kids worship music. I like smiling, coffee and Jesus.”
Except it was missing a detail that I’ve sought to keep from defining me for years… “Also… I’m dying.”
They told me how to die.
instead I chose to live.
Hey, I'm Amanda
Warm up laptop with rainbows until owner yells pee in litter box hiss at cats go into a room to decide you didn't want to be in there anyway push your water glass on the floor soft kitty warm kitty little ball of furr. Relentlessly pursues moth sleep on dog bed, force dog to sleep on floor.
My name is amanda.
hello!
A few years ago, Amanda was diagnosed with the rarest form of an autoimmune disease called Scleroderma. Her specific subtype attacks her internal organs and more specifically has paralyzed her esophagus, stomach, and most of her GI system. Her pulse and blood pressure are consistently dangerously low from her damaged and severely weakened heart causing her to be at risk for sudden cardiac failure, in addition to experiencing daily symptoms of swelling and dizziness related to CHF. In the last three years, she has broken her right femur and hip, her right knee, tailbone, pelvis, and now has had this fracture on her left hip repaired.
Years of malnourishment have taken a toll, causing Osteoporosis and since absorbing vital nutrients and vitamins as most people do isn’t possible, solutions to one medical issue have to be ruled out because of a co-occurring problem.
In 2020, a systemic infection compromised more of Amanda’s organs and she has been dealing with decreased functioning of other organs like her kidneys and liver and her teeth began falling out. Almost every day is painful and exhausting. In the Fall of 2021, doctors recommended that Amanda pursue the path of palliative care and in doing so maximize her quality of life rather than the number of days. Scleroderma sin scleroderma (the autoimmune diagnosis) is not only a terminal diagnosis, but the systemic reactions are also life-threatening. She was told she probably wouldn’t live more than 6 months— but we are all so thankful she has once again proved the doctors wrong!
Amanda qualifies for disability but her payments do not even cover basic living expenses, much less the overwhelming medical costs associated with keeping her alive. Living without a timeline means she has stayed in modest short-term rentals as she writes and fills her last days speaking and ministering, but the stress of how she will daily provide for herself has been overwhelming. We want to help her live comfortably and without fear of the future with what time she has left.
Many people have asked how they can help Amanda and SHE DOES NEED IT! She’s been “overwhelmed” by your prayers, but let’s do more than just pray. She needs financial help just like she needs a physical miracle— and if you can help with that, please give.
She’s been “overwhelmed” by your prayers, but let’s do more than just pray.
The Dream is for
MORE than just Surviving
Warm up laptop with rainbows until owner yells pee in litter box hiss at cats go into a room to decide you didn't want to be in there anyway push your water glass on the floor soft kitty warm kitty little ball of furr. Relentlessly pursues moth sleep on dog bed, force dog to sleep on floor.
My name is amanda.
hello!
