Skip to main content

Surgery Date Set

Surgery #2 is scheduled for June 19th in Hawaii.

Kim is being prioritized for care due to the complexity of her case. She’ll be at Queen’s Hospital in Honolulu, where four incredible surgeons—Dr. Hepworth, Dr. Hui, Dr. Theler, and Dr. Zhang—will team up to repair blood flow from her brain to her heart (aka, unclog the proverbial toilet!).

We’re deeply grateful for her medical team and for the continued love and support from all of you. 💛

This journey is no small feat—emotionally, mentally, or financially—for the Gifford family.

✨ Stay tuned: fundraising will resume next week with all the details we know.

#HealingJourney #Recovery #journeytoheal #medicaljourney #lymediseaseawareness #mastcell #eds #hae #advocate #jugularveindecompression #eaglessyndrome #lymedisease #medicaljourney #MedicalJourney

Words from Kim.

This is more than a restart. It’s the return of a beautiful team of friends who are helping carry my family and me through one of the hardest battles of our lives — a fight for my health, and for hope.

My current condition isn’t random. It’s the result of chronic pathogen load, mold toxicity, and genetic vulnerabilities — a perfect storm. Maybe, if you’ve seen the graphics I’ve shared over the last few days, the pieces are starting to come together for you.

Here’s the truth:

If there had been accurate testing, if practitioners were better informed, if awareness was widespread, this might have been caught years ago.

If treatments were accessible, if protocols were personalized instead of “one size fits all”, I wouldn’t be in this medical nightmare.

And if the system recognized and supported people like me, my family wouldn’t be on the brink of financial devastation.

So the next time you hear someone mention Lyme, mold, or mysterious chronic illness — don’t look away.

Think of me. Think of what I’m enduring.

Let that memory become compassion.

Let it push you to speak up, to demand answers, to make room for those who are suffering silently.

Because no one should have to fight this hard to be seen, to be heard — or to survive.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hope Lives Here

  Updates & Information on Kim            We have created this Blog for: Those who are taking time away from social media Those who do not have social media Give Kim the opportunity to share this journey, if willing and ready, as she heals. Advocacy, Awareness & Education purposes What will be posted? Well, Kim's family will be updating a few designated people on surgery, post surgical healing and what will be next throughout this process. There will also be information on ways the community, friends & family may help. Trying to keep Jason, the kids and her immediate family concentrating on Kim and their own needs instead of updates. This is our friend Kimberly Cronan Gifford. We would like to tell you a little bit about her.  She and her husband Jason are the wonderful parents of  three amazing young adults, Cole, Giovanna  & Isabella.  She has been a Lyme Advocate and Educator for 10 years. Energy Work an...
3 comments
Read more

Surgery Update

6/20 – Kim’s Surgery Update Kim underwent her first major surgery in Hawaii on Friday. The surgical team focused exclusively on restoring proper function to her right internal jugular vein (IJV) . Here’s what the procedure involved: Resection of the first cervical vertebra (C1): This bone, along with an elongated styloid process and associated ligament (a condition known as Eagle’s Syndrome ), was compressing the vein, preventing blood from draining properly from Kim’s brain. Removal of scar tissue: The vein was also constricted by unusual scar tissue, further reducing blood flow. More details about this scar tissue are shared below. Following the surgery, initial assessments suggested improved blood flow through the vein. However, subsequent imaging revealed that the vein remains partially collapsed at the C1 level . As a result, Kim may require a second surgery this coming week to place a stent and fully open the vein. Understandably, this news is deeply disappointing and emotiona...
Post a Comment
Read more

Update from Kim’s Healing Journey

It’s been about two weeks since Kim returned home from Hawaii, and right now the focus is simple but vital: monitor,  rest and recovery . The medical team has made it clear that this is top priority. Kim’s body has been through a lot—her system responds intensely to procedures, and this has added layers of complexity that doctors are working to better control. Further testing is scheduled for late August to evaluate her brain, vascular compressions, and jugular veins. The medical team is specifically monitoring Kim’s right jugular vein, which collapsed post surgically, to see if rest, time and reduced swelling will allow it to re-open. These results will help guide decisions about what comes next and when. It’s not the update Kim hoped for. She had been holding onto the hope that this chapter might finally be closing—but for now, it’s a “wait and heal” season. We continue to cheer her on and hold the vision of her receiving the very best care at every turn. 💜 #LymeDisease #HAE #He...
Post a Comment
Read more