Hope for Joy

Joy Sarcewicz has suffered for over 10 years with a severe nerve pain condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). Joy's RSD condition is a result of her suffering damage to her brachial plexus nerves due to a congenital defect known as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in which the ribs grow improperly and compress the sensitive brachial plexus nerves each time the arm is raised. This is the same condition as recently experienced by new Phillies pitcher Mike Adams. His condition resulted in numbness and pain in his arm, and his nerves "freaking out" as described by Adams causing pain in his arm, shoulder and elbow and numbness in his arm and fingers, all symptoms experienced by Joy on a daily basis. Unfortunately for Joy, her Thoracic Outlet diagnosis took years to determine, rather than just months as for Adams; as a result, Joy suffered much nerve damage and her RSD pain which persisted even after the Thoracic Outlet problem was surgically corrected over 7 years ago.

Joy's RSD manifists itself in constant nerve pain over most of her body, but especially in her arms, shoulders and back. She has been treated by many drugs and therapies which have not helped to relieve her pain.

Fortunately for Joy, a new treatment has been offered to her which could, according to a renowned RSD specialist, completely resolve her severe pain condition. As this treatment is considered to be experimental, it is not covered at all by medical insurance. While considered experimental by the medical insurance companies, this treatment has been performed many times with a very good success rate, and would be perfomed at Drexel - Hanneman University Medical Center in Philadelphia.

Joy needs to raise over $20,000 to cover the precedure and all of its associated and related costs. Once the money has been raised, Joy can get ther treatment scheduled. Her doctors have already cleared her medically to receive the treatment, so only the funding is holding Joy back from the possibility of a complete cure for her horrible condition.

All contributions will go directly to Joy's receiving this treatment.

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Contributions can be made in several ways:

1) Direct Contributions to the "For the Benefit of Joy Sarcewicz" account at TD Bank (last four account digits 0023). These contributions can be made at any TD Bank branch in Bucks County PA or Northeast Philadelphia.

2) Direct Contributions by Check, made payable to "For the Benefit of Joy Sarcewicz" an mailed to P.O. Box 1209, Langhorne PA 19047

3) Via contribution by debit or credit card through this Fundraising Site.

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You can also find out more about RSD at the RSD Association of America web site: www.rsds.org .

Thank you for considering contibuting to Hope for Joy.

 

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A NOTE FROM JOY:

My dearest friends, last night I found myself in so much pain that I could hardly breathe.

Sometimes I feel like I am doing ok, that I am balancing life well and am able to participate in life to an extent that I feel I am contributing something and am not being held back because of pain. I have a few part time jobs that I work and I serve at church with Tom in the youth group. I have fooled myself into thinking that everything is going ok.

Everything is not going ok.

I finally have to let my pride fall enough to admit that I am not doing well. I cannot keep up the front anymore. I go to work and come home in tears from pain. I have to spend several days on the sofa doing absolutely nothing in order for my nerves to calm down enough for me to proceed with my next job requirement or activity. I go to bed in tears from pain that I never thought my condition would deteriorate enough to allow, having to drug myself inorder to be able to fall asleep. I wake up exhausted and in pain having to limp down the stairs from my second floor bedroom. Sometimes my arms hurt so much that I don't have the stamina to put on makeup in the morning and showering takes so much energy that I have to rest for several hours afterwards before continuing with my day.

This is the truth; this is what my life is truly like right now.

I am so not used to this. You would think that after 12 1/2 years that I would have acclimated myself to this lifestyle but I cannot. My spirit within me is just begging to be out of this pain trap and doing what my heart so desires: working full time as an actress/dancer, working a second job to pay for bills, serving the way I want to serve with energy and excitement with nothing holding me back, and saving money for an incredible future with Tom. This is what my heart desires.

But for some reason God still has me in this place.

I fight Him so often, telling Him over and over that really my plan for my life is so much better and that He just has to trust me. Don't we all do that with God sometimes? It's hard for me to cling to the fact that "I can only see a part of the picture He is painting" of my life. Yet God is so faithful to never leave me in these times of doubt, frustration, and despair. He should have left me so many times, for I do not deserve His continued love, grace, forgiveness and provision.

But God never will leave me for He has promised to complete the work that He has begun in me.

Don't get me wrong, I hate to be in pain everyday and would do anything to rid myself of this continual nightmare, but I would not trade these last 12 years for anything because it is here in the valley that God has made Himself ever so present and I would not be as close to Him, our relationship be so strong, without this time of trial. I praise Him that He has chosen to bring me closer to Himself. I have been highly favored!

And now God has provided a way of relief for His weary worn soldier.

My friends, I cannot thank you enough for the generous support that you have already given! I am overwhelmed with gratitude and praise for you all, for I would have completely despaired if it were not for your kind words of friendship and support that you have given me. I cannot help but ask you once more for your support. Please above all be praying for me, for I am in desperate need to be carried by the prayers of my friends, my fellow saints. Please also consider supporting my fundraising needs to get me the treatment that promises to relieve me of this horrible pain that I am in. If you are not able to contribute, I completely understand and I pray that God will bless you with the financial needs that you are experiencing during this time. We all have our burdens to bear. I continue to carry all of you in prayer for all of our needs are great, and our Lord is greater still- able to provide for all of our needs and then some! Please most of all, sharing this fund raising site with all of your friends. The more word gets out the greater the possibility of me reaching my goal and going into the hospital for this treatment.

I want to leave you with the lyrics to a song written by my favorite artist, Steven Curtis Chapman. This song describes my life to a T. Youtube it and listen to the power in the words! Praise Him with me as we "worship before the throne of the one who is worthy of worship alone"!

Thank you my friends for journeying with me through this process. I praise God for you and I know that God is storing up a bounty of heavenly riches for your kindness to me, I am truly blessed!

God is God by Steven Curtis Chapman

And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don’t know

 

And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

 

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God

 

And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder
‘Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I

 

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass

 

Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for to Him and through
Him and from Him are all things

 

So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone

 

https://assets.gogetfunding.com/project/hope-for-joy

 

Thank you my friends. Love always!

Joy