Aug. 04--A mother's love knows no bounds. Regardless of age, when her child is sick, a mother's heart naturally aches. That's what Lisa Hawkins has experienced every day.
It began when her daughter Cherry Lane, 26, started showing signs of illness recently.
"She started feeling bad during the first part of May. First it was just an ear infection. She got antibiotics and went home," Hawkins said. "But it didn't get any better. She got dizzy and disoriented. She went back, and the doctor said that she had vertigo."
After being sent back home, Cherry continued to spiral downward.
Hawkins checked in on her one day to find her in an extremely worrisome state.
"Her husband told me that she'd been asleep for three days. They couldn't get her to eat. And I went to see her on like a Tuesday. She looked like she'd had a stroke. She was drooling and wasn't talking," Hawkins said.
Further testing included an MRI which showed signs of multiple sclerosis. It is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. As it turns out, Cherry has a very aggressive form of the disease.
"They finally did 95 percent sure that it is a progressive form of MS. Only 10 percent of people who have MS have this type," Hawkins said.
While this all was devastating enough, there was another aspect to Cherry's illness that put the family under even more stress -- she doesn't have insurance.
"They did the MRI and found lesions through her brain. Since she didn't have insurance, we were getting the run around," Hawkins.
Cherry has spent the last six weeks in the hospital. Today, she's in the hospital in Savannah. Hawkins says that her daughter's progress varies daily.
"For every two steps forward, she takes three steps back," she said. "It's been pretty rough. She has three children. Riley is seven, Devon is four and Allysa is two. They wonder how mommy got so sick so quick. It's hard on the entire family."
In addition to her health struggle, there is also the looming debt. Cherry's medical expenses have already topped $100,000. To help, her family has pulled together and is desperately trying to raise money.
"We've sent people everywhere. We've been getting donations of furniture and clothes. Every penny we raise is going to her medical treatment and her medicine," Hawkins said.
They are also working to organize a yard sale at Cherry's church for Saturday to help raise funds.
"It's going to start at 7 a.m. Saturday at Sterling Church of God in Sterling. We'll be out there as long as we can stand the heat," Hawkins said.
"We've also set up two accounts for her if people want to donate. One is at Marshland Credit Union and it's under Cherry's name. There is another one at First Glynn Bank. Everything donated goes straight to bills and treatment."
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