‘Hope for Stacey’ benefit set
TYLERSPORT >> Barb Fluck describes her daughter’s reflex sympathetic dystrophy/complex regional pain syndrome (RSD/ CRPS) as “an awful, awful disease.”
“It’s a horrible disease. There’s not much known about it,” Fluck said. “We need to get awareness out there.”
More studies are needed to hopefully find a cure, she said.
Proceeds from the Hope for Stacey spring benefit scheduled for 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 1 at the Tylersport firehouse at 125
Ridge Road will go to help cover the costs of medical treatments her daughter, Stacey Myers, receives that are not covered by insurance, Fluck said.
Myers, now 41, was healthy, working full-time and taking care of the family — husband Shawn and children, Kylie, now 19, and Zach, now 16 — when she dropped a table on her foot while cleaning in 2009, Fluck said.
“We took her to the emergency room, she hadn’t broken anything, but her foot immediately dropped,” Fluck said.
“Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, CRPS, formerly known as RSD Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, is a progressive
disease of the Autonomic Nervous System, and more specifically, the Sympathetic Nervous System. The pain is characterized as constant, extremely intense, and out of proportion to the original injury. The pain is typically accompanied by swelling, skin changes, extreme sensitivity, and can often be debilitating. It usually affects one or more of the four limbs but can occur in any part of the body and in over 70 [percent] of the victims it spreads to additional areas,” according to information on www.rsdhope.org.
The disease has spread throughout Myers’ body, followed by other medical issues, her mother said.
“She woke up one day and she was blind in her right eye,” Fluck said. “It affected her optic nerve and she just went blind.”
Myers has some vision in her left eye, but it is blurry, Fluck said.
“She uses a power wheelchair. That’s how she gets around,” Fluck said. Much of Myers time is spent in bed, though, she said.
Myers’ body no longer absorbs fluids through the mouth, Fluck said.
A chest port had to be added because the fluids can no longer be given intravenously through the veins, she said.
The Myers’ live in Leesport, where they moved prior to the disease, but would like to move back to the local area at some point, Fluck said.
“Her entire family is here,” Fluck said.
Myers is able to remain in her home, but has to go to Rhode Island for the treatments, Fluck said.
“She deserves to have some kind of relief. It doesn’t take away all her pain, but it keeps it manageable and that’s why we do it,” Fluck said.
Information about Myers and RSD is available at www.hopeforstacey.com.
The Hope For Stacey spring benefit will include dinner, beer, soda, water, desserts, DJ Justin from Lobie Entertainment, dancing, a photo booth and face painting. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 6 through 12. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available at www.hopeforstacey.com, by emailing sbfluck@verizon. net or by calling 215-5297572. Tickets may be purchased online with a credit card. Payments by check may be made by mailing the check to Barb Fluck, 2361 N. Old Bethlehem Pike, Lot #5, Quakertown, PA 18951. The checks should be made payable to Barb Fluck.
Persons unable to attend the event, but who want to make a donation can do so through the web site or by mailing checks to Hope for Stacey, PO Box 553, Trumbaursville, PA 18970. The checks should be made payable to Steve Fluck.
Checks for either tickets or donations should include “In Trust for Stacey Myers” on the memo line.
Myers will be at the Hope for Stacey benefit, her mother said.
“It really gives her a lot of encouragement to see her friends and family,” she said.
“She’s a fighter. You have to be,” Fluck said.
Support from others is also important, she said.
“It’s a lonely disease and they suffer so much with the pain,” Fluck said. “It’s so important to have that love.”