I am 29 years old and a mother of 2 amazing boys! A 10yr old and a 10month old. I have always been pretty good at working out and eating healthy. In school I ran track, cross country, and played soccer. If I had the time I would have played every sport I could have. When I ran across Zuzka I thought I was in pretty good shape ( this was 7 years after school) and I was so wrong! Lol! She really should me a new level of strength I never had before. I felt so amazing after the pain disappeared!

Fast forward a couple years later, I was rushed to the hospital after having severe vomiting and excruciating pain in my upper abdominal area. I didn’t go right away because I’ve had these pains for 10yrs and was told it was more then likely an ulcer caused by re-flux. The vomiting was what made me finally decide to go in to the hospital. My baby was only 2 1/2 months old at this time. Turns out that for 10yrs these pains I was experiencing was caused by gallstones! One of the stones happened to get lodged into the duct of my pancreas, and I ended up with acute pancreatitis. I was in the hospital for a week when they transferred me to a better equipped hospital because I had an infection and formed a pseudo cyst around my pancreas. I stayed in the hospital for almost a month and was not aloud to eat or drink anything at all for the first 2 weeks. I finally was able to get some nourishment through a feeding tube the inserted through my nose (that was awful).

About the third week in I was able to eat clear liquids and then soft foods like pudding. Unfortunately since my pancreas was out of commission my blood sugar was spiking up to the 500’s! So I had to be very careful with what I ate and drank. Finally the day before I was told I could be released, I was able to eat some real food. I was sooo happy! I normally don’t eat fast food, but every time I saw a Popeye’s commercial I wanted some fried chicken so bad! Of course I wasn’t allowed to eat that but I got a healthy meal and felt great.

However, early the next morning the severe stomach pains came back and I threw up several times, including my feeding tube. I had to have it removed and later on had to have the procedure done 2 more times because the tube kinked up the first time. I stayed a few more days and was finally released. I was on home healthcare for 2 more weeks since I was still using the feeding tube. During this time I went from 145 down to 118lbs! Even though I lost all my baby weight, I also lost all my muscle mass and my boobs and butt shrunk dramatically! I was unable to nurse anymore since my supply stopped coming in. 2 months later I finally had my gallbladder removed and they found 90 stones and sludge in it. Apparently my gallbladder was severely infected.

I still have 1 more CT scan to do next week to see if the pseudo cyst has shrunk enough to not require surgery. When I was told I could resume normal activities I assumed I could jump right into what I have done before. I did not realize how much muscle I lost during those months of April and May. However, I was determined to get it back. For me it is not about losing the weight, but to get my strength back. I felt so weak and exhausted for a long time. I feel 10 times better now! I have been working real hard to get stronger then I was before I got sick. With Zuzka’s help I am already on that path. Thanks Zuzka!

My oldest sisters 16 year old daughter took her own life the Monday before Thanksgiving. We are trying to race enough funds to help with funeral costs. Any help would be appreciated.

http://www.gofundme.com/huxglg