Dear family, friends and community. As some of you know, my sister was diagnosed with two rare conditions: Meniere's Disease and Vestibular Migraine quite a few years ago. About 0.1% of the population in our country has both Meniere's and Vestibular Migraine. In fact, in 2023, the severity of my sister’s symptoms intensified which brought her to many ER visits (one by ambulance) and required tons of testing and for her to seek a vestibular specialist/ENT at Cedar Sinai, a neuro-otologist at UCI, upper cervical care specialist, and few other doctors that play a critical role in keeping her symptoms relatively low. She has done so many different mainstream and alternative therapies to help with the situation and give her the ability to live her life as best as possible. In fact, she was experiencing quite a bit of time symptom-free which allowed her to serve in children ministry at their church, teach her students whom she loves and most importantly of all be the active mom/wife/sister/daughter/friend she loves to be.

But these simple things she loves to do have been mostly eliminated because this past October of 2025, she endured 6 brutal vertigo attacks that left her with daily debilitating symptoms such as the inability to drive due to motion/movement sensitivity, central nervous system/brainstem issues, nausea, dizziness, vision issues, hypersensitivity to sound and sensory stimuli, nonstop pulsating tinnitus (hearing her heartbeat/blood whooshing in her left ear 24/7) which makes sleeping so difficult, “on-a-boat” floating feeling when she walks, and so much more. She hasn’t been able to leave the house except for doctor appointments and even that has been incredibly challenging.

These past 4 months she had to stop working/teaching her students, and Eric has had to take time off work to take her to her various doctor appointments as she has endured many tests such as MRI, MRA, VNG, and so many more. The results of these tests have recently shown that she has permanently lost significant vestibular function and requires vestibular rehab therapy weekly for the foreseeable future that will hopefully retrain her brain and inner ear to adjust to her vestibular loss or her new normal. In addition, she has lost even more hearing in her left ear that will require the use of a specialized hearing aid if/when her balance gets more stabilized. Her neuro-otologist is requiring more upcoming tests such as a CT Scan of her temporal bone and an MRV (which is similar to an MRI of the brain but it focuses on the veins from the brain to the neck) in March as they continue to look for answers.  

As you all know, Jami and Eric are leaning on the Lord so much and trusting in Him through all of this. In fact, I know many of you have asked how you can help support them through this incredibly hard season, and they usually ask for prayer, which they know is vital for their needs.

But, I also know their finances are being depleted so quickly with these specialists, tests, vestibular rehab therapy, neuro modulators, and specialized treatments that are either partially covered by their insurance or some not at all. And the long wait times for certain doctors and tests take time. This next month, they have some upcoming appointments with some cash pay specialists that they are really hoping will shed light on her condition and give them some answers and relief! It’s been so hard for Jami not being able to work, which has also been a significant financial strain. Not to mention, she is just beginning this rehab journey and it’s unknown how long she will need to complete rehab while their costs are piling up. 

           For those of you that know my sister, she is the most loving, giving, kind, selfless and thoughtful person I know. She has such an amazing love for life and and the people in her life that it just breaks my heart seeing her have to battle this horrible condition, that is so debilitating. She is so incredibly brave though and her faith is unbreakable! All this said, our family decided to create a way to come alongside them and support them during this time. Every contribution helps, no matter the amount, and most importantly, we believe in the power of prayer and would appreciate your prayers more than anything! Thank you so much and God Bless! Please feel free to share this link on your social media platforms!