Where do I start? I began this campaign a year ago. I had to watch the mother of my three beautiful children ache and cry out in pain most nights in the beginning. I still see tears well up in her eyes because she can’t pick up our two youngest children.
I am a husband with a mission to help my wife in every way possible. I am relentlessly praying for a miracle in some fashion and I have turned to FundTheFirst in hopes that someone may see this and might be willing or able to help in some regard.
My wife and I both know that God ultimately has a plan set out for our lives that we ultimately don’t understand and that this issue is a trial and is for a season, but the pain and discomfort she is in is unbearable at times and is unbearable for a husband to witness.
I can’t help her condition physically or aid in her body’s recovery. Since what she has is in her neuromuscular and central nervous system. Our insurance does not cover all the care/treatment she needs and the medical bills continue to build (receiving phone calls for inability to pay). I work upwards of 56 hours per week between a regular job and a side job doing Uber and Lyft unit 4am some nights just trying to make our ends meet.
I’ve even went so far as to try and contact The Dave Ramsey show in hopes of receiving financial advice and getting guidance from him but, I have yet to speak to anyone personally.
My wife has been diagnosed with a seemingly rare malformation of her upper cervical spine at the base of her skull that pinches and irritates nerves, she also has Tarlov cyst in her upper, mid and lower spine. She is also dealing with the devastating blow of being poisoned with an MRI contrasting agent known as Gadolinium (the same as Chuck Norris’s wife).
She has even reached out to Gena Norris for advice and guidance about her life moving forward with this poisoning issue. She has even attempted to try and turn her situation into somewhat of a vlog ministry for others out there by way of a YouTube channel (Hem of His Garment).
I admire her strength and her will but, as a husband all I can utterly do is sit back, pray and attempt to financially support a family of 5. Again, we are here just to try and see if people can help in any way....May God bless anyone who reads all the way through this description and if you aren’t able to donate at all...please just simply place my wife (Erin Shackelford) on your prayer list and let us know. Thank You and May God Bless You!!
Updates
To provide an update for everything that is going on and for what has happened.
I realize this campaign has ran for a year now and Erin’s health is beginning to finally improve (dare I say; she has feeling back in her legs and feet). There is still a lot of nerve damage that has been done that she continues to struggle with from day to day. The flareups of severe debilitating pain and discomfort have subsided, thankfully. However, the one thing that has not gotten better has been the medical bills of course. They have racked up continuously and a few of them have now gone into collections. We are trying our best to manage what we have and to pay things off the best way we know how. Hopefully without any repossession of our belongings or any personal property.
I prayerfully am clear in saying this: We are not trying to seem like a panhandlers on the side of the road, but that’s how we feel at this point. We wholeheartedly appreciate the generosity of everyone thus far and the gracious donations to this campaign. We thank the members of our community and their families and to everyone who has provided some sort of financial aid in any way. You have been a tremendous blessing to our family as we continue to try and follow the Lord’s direction through this medical/ health journey. We ultimately pray and hope to minister to others who are suffering from Gadolinium Toxicity. As well as the side effects of unnecessary chemicals into the body.
To give somewhat of an update. We have done almost everything we could. Erin, does have her good days and bad days and now deals with thoughts that a mother of three shouldn’t have to be dealing with.
This whole experience has been physically and mentally taxing on all of us, including our children. And now on top of the mentally taxing state we are currently in. The debt from all of the treatments are now beginning to pile up on our dresser.
Folks, like I said we have our good days and bad days, but from how we see it. As of right now at least it’s a day together as a family...
Update 29 December
With a new year right around the corner our prayer is for a miracle it seems. Over Christmas things seemed to progress. More pain more numbness more nerves over stimulated. It’s all been a lot on my wife and I, but it seems to be taking even more away from our children.
The kids simply want their mother back. They want mommy to be able to do things, like take a walk outside with them. Be able to ride in a car with them and not have to stop so often. They want their mommy back.
That’s what I’m trying to do here is give my wife and children a better quality of life and prayerfully give them hope! Hope in the form of a monetary amount to get mommy to treatments. Hope to get mommy the medicines and detox supplements she needs. Hope to try and keep our home and not have to make a choice between a house payment or a treatment.
I keep doing this in with fervent prayer that somehow, someway we will hit our goal and I can fully take care of my wife and she can prayerfully recover...
Update 23 December
She is off to yet another doctors appointment to seek more treatment. We keep praying that things begin to fall into place and that her nerves, her pain and her discomfort eventually subside, but nothing has truly worked so far. She had a split second of relief a few days ago, but that left her as quickly as it came.
Guys, the prayers are what are truly needed at this time. I pray that we are able to pay our bills and I’m looking into what discounts might be Available for us as well as other expenses. I NEVER in a million years would’ve thought I would have my family in this position. It’s just been one heck of a year and we are ready for this roller coaster to end. We know it hasn’t been easy on many others either.
It’s just unbearable at times to watch the mother of my children endure so much pain and agony and not be able to do a darn thing!
For those who question me, my honesty and the validity of our situation....frankly I’m hurt, but I get it. People in this world now-a-days use others and use excuses and multiple other facets to try and pity-party their way into peoples pockets. Folks, I’ll be honest and transparent here...As a husband I NEED HELP. We need help in making sure our bills are paid (our house Payment went up $287 because of taxes), I can only work so much before I pass out from exhaustion, all the while trying to take care of three kids too. I need to try and EARN (not beg) enough money to get my wife back on a course to heal.
YES, I do have federal insurance. However, it does NOT cover the treatments my wife needs. We have had to seek out functional means and medicine, because the initial traditional medicine was the very thing that placed her in this condition.
I’m sorry I have vented, but it been a hard day....Good night, we love you and may God Bless you!
Update 22 December
This is really starting to hurt and it’s starting to take a toll on all of us. Myself, my kids and of course my wife. The loss of bodily functions is now occurring. The inability to truly take care of the kids and ultimately the quality of life as a mother is deteriorating.
Where do we go (Yes, our Bibles)? Where do we turn (Of course toward God)? What can be said (Prayers)? It’s more challenging than ever and now it’s trying to mitigate things that are happening to the best of our abilities. It’s myself trying to pay a house payment, bills, treatments and ultimately trying to help seek the care she needs and deserves. It’s me trying to convey to a 5 year old that God does heal people, but just not mommy right now. It’s trying not to cry over a dinner prayer that my daughter says pleading on mommy’s behalf for her to get better. It’s trying to be the best supporting husband I can be, good father and Christian.
I can say we are ready for a new beginning in the coming year, but in truth this may only be the tip of our iceberg.
Donations & Comments
Only administrators, organizers, and beneficiaries can reply to comments.
donated $100
Reply from Cade Shackelford3 years agoI thank you so much for who you are and what you have done!! Your love and support is a testament of your heart! I pray that you are able to share our message wherever you can. Again, I thank you so so much for what you have done and provided! It truly is loved and prayed over!
Reply from Cade Shackelford3 years agoI don’t know how to thank you! We can’t say it enough!! Your love and support is a testament of your heart and we truly hope that you are blessed!! Much the same way as you blessed us! We don’t know who you are, but we love you for what you have done for us!! We pray that you are able to share this message wherever you are possibly allowed to and again we thank you!! May God bless you and yours this time of year just as you have blessed us!
Praying for you 🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️❤️ Remember God works in mysterious ways unknown to us. Keep your eyes open to possibilities he may be showing you! He puts us through trials that he knows we can handle, so if you’re having a hard night pray for his strength! He’s with you always!! Worry and stress do not come from him, so don’t let them get you. He will always provide...
Reply from Cade Shackelford4 years agoMarigold, my goodness! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your love and support is something I can’t say thank you enough for! God Bless you and your message is right on point and you’re absolutely right. He is most certainly placing us through a trial to forge us through this fire for something much greater. My wife and I are truly grateful for what you’ve done for us and I pray that you’re able to share our message and story!
Blessings to you and your family
Reply from Cade Shackelford4 years agoGod bless you for your love and support of a mother and a wife!! I can not thank you enough! Our hearts a warmed by your love and we pray that once she is better we are able to do the same onto others as you have done onto us!! Again, God bless you and if you can please share our need if you will. Thank you thank you thank you!!!
God Bless you and your family!
Reply from Cade Shackelford4 years agoKris, thank you so much for your love and support of my wife and our family!! I ask of you if you will please share our message anywhere you possibly can. May God bless you and yours and again thank you so so very much!!
God bless you all
Reply from Cade Shackelford4 years agoI thank you so much for your donation. I thank you for your love and support of a mother and a wife and we pray that you are blessed just as you have blessed us!!
Reply from Cade Shackelford3 years agoCloyd, we can’t say thank you enough. I’m sorry it has taken so long to thank you and just appreciate the person that you are! Your love and support is a testament of your heart and care in this world. Truly from the depths of our hearts we thank you!! We pray that your are blessed just as you have blessed us this time of year and in our time of need. We just pray also that you are able to share our message wherever you are possibly allowed. Again, thank you so much and may God bless you and yours!!
donated $100
Reply from Cade Shackelford4 years agoTonya, we thank you for your love and support of a mother and a wife! We love you for who you are and what you have done for us! If you can please share my wife’s meaaage wherever you possibly can! Again, thank you so much for your love and support and may God bless you!!
God Bless your family
Reply from Cade Shackelford3 years agoTony, we can not express the amount of gratitude and thanks we have for you! Your expression of love and support is a testament of your heart! We pray that you are blessed the same way you have blessed us at this time of year. I’m also sorry that it has taken me so long to actually thank you. Just know your donation is prayed over and loved in so many ways. Our prayer also is that you’re able to share our message wherever you possibly can or are allowed. Again, thank you so much for your love and May God Bless you and your family this time of year! Thank you!!
God Bless!
Reply from Cade Shackelford3 years agoI can not express the love and gratitude we have for you! I’m so sorry that I have not been able to get around to thanking you until now. Your love and support is a testament to your heart and for that my wife and I love you! We pray that you are blessed during this time of year just as you have blessed us! We also pray that you are able to share our message wherever you are possibly allowed to. Again, thank you and we love you for who you are and how you have blessed us!! May God bless you and your family!
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Praying so hard for you all!!