UPDATE 11/30/2025: Thanks to so many generous friends, and friends of friends, Julie and Aaron have purchased a new wheelchair she can use at home and one that she can take when she's going out. They've paid some of her medical bills and have had a really great ramp built for her to easily get in and out of the house and go for "walks" around the neighborhood. You have made a lot of things much more accessible for her, and it's been a while since we've said thank you. So Thank You!
There are two things they are currently working on... Unfortunately, a couple weeks ago, Julie's car was stolen from their driveway in back of their house - well-lit and equipped with a camera that filmed the whole thing but didn't deter the thieves. They have gotten the car back - damaged - but her new wheelchair was in it and was not returned. Now they are needing to replace that. And Julie has been working with a doctor who has recommended a treatment plan that they hope will improve her health, increase her mobility and lead to a much better quality of life in a few months' time. Although this treatment is pretty costly, we feel it's the best option for improvements.
We appreciate you sharing this story again so that others might consider fulfilling this campaign. We would be so grateful. For those who have given already, thank you so much! Your loving care of Julie has been a great encouragement.
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These are the things Juju needs that we are raising funds for:
- Electric Wheelchair co-pay - $1300
- Portable electric wheelchair out-of-pocket - $1000
- Ramp for home entrance steps - $1500
- Foot drop brace co-pay - $190
- Treatments and targeted antibiotics for the Lyme Disease - $4000
- Baclofen Pump surgery co-pays, repeated office visit co-pays for pump adjustments, Physical and Occupational therapy co-pays - $2250 (so far)
- Heart procedure co-pays…… TBD
Julie (aka Juju to grandbabies) started having auto-immune symptoms in 1998. She has done many different treatments over the years. She also had some divine healing in 2012, for which we are so thankful!!!
In the Fall of 2022, Julie started having painful spasticity symptoms. Spasticity in her body causes cramps in her left toes that cause them to kink and now callouses have formed in the folds of the kinked toes. Walking is so painful. Then the spasticity progressed to jerking her whole leg; her toes curl in a cramp, her foot lifts, her calf and thigh cramp and jerks her whole leg upward. This happens through the night and worsens from her first move in the mornings. She often wakes up in tears because of the pain. Ultimately, the constant and long-term spasticity has resulted in generalized weakening of her muscles.
In February 2025, Julie had surgery to install an internal pump that would deliver intermittent doses of a medicine called Baclofen directly into her spine. This is a medicine that works to reduce or eliminate spasticity. Seven weeks later, she had to have a second surgery because the pump had become unattached and out of position so that the Baclofen couldn’t get to her spine. Now, the pump seems to be working better, but the reduction of spasticity in her muscles has revealed how terribly weak her leg muscles have really become. Two surgeries in such a short time took their toll on her too.
In 2024, Julie was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which has led to a whole new set of health issues. She is working with a doctor who has offered a treatment plan for this.
And now, in June 2025, Julie experienced a small heart attack and had to have a procedure that discovered two blocked arteries, and stents were placed.
To say it’s been a difficult couple of years is a huge understatement - especially this year (2025) where Julie’s mobility has gone drastically downhill and her pain is not letting up. She’s doing PT three times a week to try to at least keep what muscle she has and hopefully increase her strength once the Baclofen begins to work like it should.
Obviously, there are expenses related to all these surgeries and procedures that have piled up over this past year. Also, Julie has mobility issues and addressing these issues will cost more than she and her husband, Aaron are able to pay for any time soon.
When Aaron leaves for work each day, Julie needs to be able to get around in her home independently, so she has been fitted for an electric wheelchair that will mainly be for use in the home. It has a very high copay, is very heavy, and is not portable. In order for her to not be home-bound, she also needs a smaller, portable electric wheelchair that insurance will not cover. She is also needing an ankle/foot brace that should increase her mobility. And she needs a ramp to get up and down the steps to the entrance to their home.
