Wish: It has been a REALLY tough year! My husband has been hospitalized a couple of times and been out of work disabled for over four months time. I am a chronic pain fighter and disabled since 1999 with RSD/CRPS (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) – a disease I developed after falling down a flight of stairs and shattering my ankle which affects the sympathetic, parasympathetic and autonomic nervous systems. I also have Fibromyalgia and approximately 10 other diseases that compound the RSD/CRPS symptoms. The main symptom of RSD/CRPS is an incredibly high level of burning nerve pain that feels like someone has poured gasoline inside my body and lit it on fire. The disease started in my left ankle and has spread full body including my autonomic nervous system which is my digestion, breathing, eyesight, sweating, menstruation, hearing, concentration, memory, and also anxiety. There is so much involved with the RSD/CRPS and when I first was diagnosed, there were no support groups or online Facebook available so I started a support group in Kansas City in 2006. I now am also a MW Reg Manager for US Pain Foundation also. We have a 21 year old son who just had a birthday in mid-November and we were unable to do ANYTHING for his big birthday. With our finances the way we are – (we are behind on our bills, utilities, etc.) we are unable to buy our son any Christmas gifts either. It is unfair to expect him to go without again for the 4th year. It seLisaems that every single year, the “black cloud of problems” has found us around Christmas time. My husband and I can go without gifts again but I would love to be able to get my son some gifts for combination birthday/Christmas!!! He is a wonderful son! Plays in a worship band at church, plays in another band, no drugs, no drinking, treats women with respect (i.e. – not dating right now), and is a good Christian kid. He deserves better than what we are able to give to him. He will soon be gone from our home to stay and I want the final year(s) with him home to be somewhat decent. They have failed for what they should have been. He is loved so much – but I feel like we have failed him in so many ways. I actually feel like I have failed my husband too as he works sooooo hard sometimes working months without a day off when he is working and not having time to himself. I would love to get him a nice gift… but I can’t. Believe me, I know that gifts do not buy love. I learned that at an early age. It is just that after so many many years of going without, you start to feel a little scorned. I just want to be able to show them that I DO LOVE THEM!!! Anyway, thank you for reading my wish! Sincerely, LKC

Requested by: Lisa