Full story

Hi! I am Ashley's sister, Andrea Pursifull. My big sister has Bilateral Trigeminal Neuralgia. Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) aka "The Suicide Disease" is a very rare, progressive, and incurable chronic illness that usually affects people over the age of 50, but can hit at any age. TN sends stabbing and electric-like shocks of pain to both sides of her face (most only have it on one side). This causes her to have tics and makes her have flare ups that make her scream and cry from the pain. Doctors and experts say that it's one of the most painful conditions known to mankind. It is possible that she has this illness due to a head injury she got when she was young.

In May, my sister's condition took a turn for the worst and she had to leave work. For awhile she tried some days when she thought she could tolerate the pain, until she couldn't any more. My sister has been to the ER several times for infusions of her ER anticonvulsant, countless doctor's appointments at the University of Michigan, and has had several painful procedures and tests to try and ease the pain and suffering it causes her on a daily basis. She doesn't just go through this pain once in awhile; it is an all day, every day struggle for her. Not only is it a struggle for her emotionally and physically but it is financially draining as she cannot work at this time and has not been able to work since May. Once her condition is manageable, she will be able to return to work starting part time with a couple of hours per work day until she is able to withstand an entire work day, flare-free.

Ashley's condition is currently not under control, even though she takes many medications daily. She is in a position where her illness is hard to treat because it does affect both sides of her face instead one, so she cannot have the surgical options that other people with her illness have. This makes treating her very hard and she will continue to have consitent appointments at the University of Michigan where she sees several doctors who are working hard to take care of her. She has several appointments coming up along side a painful procedure just before Christmas.

Ashley and her boyfriend Nick do not go longer than three weeks without making the two hour drive to and from Ann Arbor, and because it is beneficial for their drive, they make multiple appointments for the same day and end up spending the whole day there. This becomes very costly when sometimes there are months when it is weekly trips. As much as Ashley has tried to fight against TN, it has taken a lot from her. Her medical bills from one of the hospitals she has been treated at aside from the U of M have started to pile up, along with her month-to-month bills. Her and her boyfriend have fought very hard through this and it has become clear that they no longer can do this alone. So I am asking you all for help!! Please help support my sister at this time by buying a t-shirt and spreading Trigeminal Neuralgia awareness. The funds will go towards their travel expenses, past medical bills since she has gotten sick, and for things that are needed for day-to-day living that they have become behind on. Thank you all for reading my sister's story and any help is appreciated!