Update as of 6/2/2022

Brittany had the cyst removed about a week ago! She is going through speech therapy and recognizes that talking is a lot less cumbersome. She has a lot of head and neck pain that is being managed, and it’s still a bit of a slow-go as far as moving around. Some of the family’s needs could be met by in-home assistance with household chores and help with Grayson and Harper, if you or anyone you know is interested in that field of work!

The backstory:

Brittany and Kevin have six children. The eldest two are the lovely kids we get to see and hold and play with today. The other four are with Jesus and were taken much too soon over the past two years. Both Brittany and Kevin have been navigating the trauma and deep slew of painful emotions that accompany miscarriage and stillbirth, each in different ways. For Brittany specifically, this has been particularly tough. Zayne was lost in July of 2021, which is often identified as the impetus for what has been going on in recent months. Following the delivery of Zayne, Brittany began experiencing what was identified at the time as bizarre physical manifestations of unresolved grief. This included crippling panic/anxiety attacks which sometimes involved a loss of memory, intense vertigo, derealization, unexplained severe dizziness, as well as feelings of deep depression and just generally wanting to be done with life. Time and again, she has said that she had not felt like herself in many months, and that the present reality did not feel like real life. The vertigo eventually landed her in the ER in August of 2021, at which point the doctors took a CT scan of her brain and found a large cyst. This was never followed up on, and the doctors she saw thereafter inside and outside of the ER dismissed it as having nothing to do with anything. In October of 2021, Brittany experienced a grand mal seizure, which once again led to a trip to the ER. At this point, an EEG was ordered to monitor her brain and hopefully identify the issues, but she didn't receive one until Christmas. Her EEG came back abnormal, but this led to practically nothing, as there had not been a neurologist available to interpret the readings. This fell between the cracks, and Brittany and Kevin have been waiting for a neurologist since that reading was taken. Following this were more doctor's visits where they prescribed various anti-dizziness medications and antidepressants to hopefully help with the ever-present "anxiety/panic attacks". These had varying degrees of success, but the "panic attacks" continued, and the dizziness ebbed and flowed.

Currently:

In early March of 2022, still waiting to be seen by a neurologist regarding the seizure of October of 2021, Brittany once again was taken to the ER because of a stroke-like experience while at church. At this point, they did another MRI and a 24hr EEG, which revealed that what had been labeled by all of her doctors as anxiety/panic attacks were ACTUALLY two types of seizures happening in her brain, as well as inflammation which led to the diagnosis of limbic encephalitis. What had been treated as emotional trauma was identified as a real physical issue that no amount of counseling and therapy would ever be able to address. Finally some real answers after so many months! That brings us to the present day. As of today (3/14/22), Brittany has been in the hospital for a week and a day, as they have been doing steroid treatments and various kinds of physical/speech/occupational therapy. They are also having regular consultations with the neurologist (and hopefully a neurosurgeon soon) to evaluate if/when the cyst should be removed. Things are finally happening and Brittany is getting the kind of attention her case has needed since at least August!

In summary:

The Illidge family has been through the wringer, to say the least. Eight months of countless hospital visits, several ambulance rides, innumerable medications, doctor's visits, specialized tests, urgent care visits, and attention from specialists, with not necessarily a clear end in sight at this point. Their need for communal help is clearer than most, whether it be financial assistance, coming alongside with prayer and encouragement, help with Grayson and Harper, or emotional and relational support for both Brittany and Kevin. If you are able and wish to do so, please consider supporting the Illidge family financially through this donation page. Among everything else, the medical bills are mounting and are daunting for Brittany and Kevin to even begin looking at.

A message from Brittany's parents:

"Every gift helps. Every gift of time, presence, prayer, encouragement, meals, and babysitting reflects love. Only God can meet the deepest needs of each heart, and He is providing for the Village of Illidge in an abundant way! We trust God's provision, and we ask most especially for all your continued prayers! We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and gifts that have been provided by friends, family, neighbors, schoolteachers, and the church family throughout this journey. We ask God's blessing on all who have shared this journey with Brittany, Kevin, Grayson, and Harper, as well as their extended family."

Financial Support for Brittany Illidge and Family

By Hansine Willoughby

Financial Support for Brittany Illidge and Family

Help ease the financial burden of medical bills for Brittany and Kevin

Team Members