Thank you for your patience, compassion, and ongoing physical and financial support for the Gifford Family.
It is time for Kim to focus on what lies ahead, and your kind support is needed.
Please understand that Kim has experienced challenging months filled with numerous setbacks. She continues to suffer from severe symptoms that make it impossible for her to engage in everyday tasks. If you know Kim well, you know that bringing this resilient Italian woman down takes a lot. Unfortunately, she is facing serious issues due to the remaining blockages in her brain, the right jugular vein, and the lower veins that usually carry blood back to the heart. Additionally, blockages are affecting her left kidney and right pelvis, all of which are contributing to her health challenges. The body's venous system does the vital work of taking all the blood back to the heart. The root cause of Kim’s collapsed and blocked veins is Lyme Disease, Ehlers-Danlos and Eagle’s Syndrome rather than poor lifestyle choices.
We will refer to the veins as the body's waste elimination system for simplicity. Kim’s veins resemble backed-up sewage pipelines, and this system is overwhelmed. Due to a lack of flow in the Right Jugular Vein, fluid is trapped in her head, leading to the accumulation of toxic waste and significant swelling throughout her body. Meanwhile, the newly rebuilt (2/5/25) Left Jugular Vein is unable to manage this level of flow on its own.
SURGERY #2 is JUNE 19th IN HAWAII:
Kim is being prioritized for treatment as she is considered one of the most complex and severe cases. At Queen’s Hospital in Honolulu, Kim will be under the care of four surgeons: Dr. Hepworth, Dr. Hui, Dr. Theler, and Dr. Zhang. These surgeons will collaborate in their respective specialties to address the challenging task of re-establishing the upper part of her venous flow to the heart. (Thereby unclogging the proverbial toilet!)
THE CURRENT PLAN:
Kim will be flying to Hawaii with Jason on June 14th to meet with the members of the team on June 16th. They will conduct any necessary additional testing before her surgery, scheduled for June 19th. Since Kim's body is highly sensitive, it is crucial that every team member is fully informed about the medications and treatments she can safely receive. This decision-making process has been long and challenging for Kim. Fortunately, she has some excellent local providers who care for her deeply and are putting in extra hours to assist her. We are incredibly grateful for their support.
THE SURGERY:
- Clear all lymph nodes compressing the Right Jugular Vein
- Remove any bone from the cervical spine that is compressing the vein
- Stent the Right Jugular Vein
- Enter the intracranial (within the brain cavity) venous system and clear as many blockages as possible
- Address any additional blockages to restore full flow
The goal is to accomplish this with four surgeons in one long surgical day. They will monitor and assess the flow with additional imaging and note her symptoms to determine if they need to undergo a SECOND surgery, TWO DAYS LATER.
Kim is currently facing many unknowns, which makes her situation very challenging. This is particularly difficult for someone who is used to managing what is best for herself and her family, creating a heavy mental burden. We hope that people will continue to engage with her campaign, share it widely, and help in any way they can. Kim’s doctor has advised that she stay in Hawaii for 2 to 3 months, but due to expenses, she will remain there until July 14, unless otherwise advised. As a result, Kim is focusing more on costs and less on preparing herself for the surgeries and healing process.
Queen’s Hospital and the surgical team are out of network, which means the Giffords are facing immense costs that are difficult to comprehend. The surgical team, along with Kim, will work diligently to determine if any out-of-network expenses can be covered. They will not know the total cost of the surgeries until they are fully completed, as it is uncertain whether Kim will require one or two additional surgeries or if any complications will arise.
We have noted that other patients who have required similar surgeries in Hawaii have been forced to pay up to $17,000 just to secure a surgical spot on short notice, the day before the surgery. Regardless of what they may be able to cover through insurance or negotiation, the overall amount is likely to be staggering, and we won’t fully understand the financial impact until the surgeries are completed. These are the ONLY doctors qualified to provide the necessary care, and medical travel to Hawaii is extraordinarily expensive.
The family has decided that Cole, Gigi, and Bella will remain in Colorado due to their complex health needs. They require ongoing weekly care from their specialists, which must be paid out of pocket. As you may recall, Kim is their primary caregiver when she is available, and this will increase the financial burden on the family.
The Giffords need our support now more than ever! Please consider any amount you can afford, as every donation is important in restoring Kim’s health and vitality. We ask you to ENGAGE and SHARE this message widely.
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