Nursing couple in need of financial help as daughter fights for her life in lupus battle
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — Ryan and Wendy Sansom who are nurses themselves in the community are in the hospital caring for their daughter Angelina Xiong who is fighting for her life in the ICY at UAB in Birmingham battling lupus — an auto immune disease.
“You help other people go through this but experiencing this is completely different but its heart wrenching and I can’t even describe the pain it’s like someone squeezing my heart and you can’t control it at all,” Her mother Wendy Sansom said.
They became aware of their 24-year-old daughter’s health problems in March of this year when she moved to reunite with them in Dothan from Chico, California where she was going to college.
But they say after talking with her, the symptoms started about three to 4 months before the move.
“She would drop hints these are my symptoms, I’m feeling depressed and the big kicker was I lost 25 pounds and she was sending me pictures of her arms and legs and I told her she needed to go get her blood work,” She said.
Shortly after she moved to the Wiregrass to begin pursuing her nursing career after working as a CNA, she was diagnosed with lupus. She spent time at Southeast Health before being flown to UAB for specialized care where she has been for the last three weeks.
Doctors have put her through several invasive procedures but so far her condition is unpredictable at this point making it a rough journey.
“They keep trying things and it’s not working because she let it go so long that it attacked her lungs and heart, so they are trying to figure out how to get her whole body back to health,” Ryan Sansom said.
After the Sansom’s recently moved from California and had to miss work to stay by the side of their loved one at the hospital, they need financial help to cover medical costs and everyday expenses.
A GoFundMe page has been set up with a goal of $100,000.
“I haven’t even got the bills on how much we owe, our co-pay or anything and I’m terrified,” Her mother said. “I’m a prideful person I do not like asking for help but to be pushed to this point I’m scared I’m going to lose everything.”
You can help the family and donate here.
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