Samantha’s Story… As a Community We Can Help!

Samantha Fera is a fellow Saultite struck down by an illness that’s diagnosis only means years of severe debilitation and possible death.

Our hope is to create awareness and as a Community, ban together to bring a bit of Christmas Cheer to Samantha and her young son during these very difficult times this holiday season.

Samantha’s Story

Samantha Fera is a single mom that has taken on the role of motherhood with determination and unwillingness to allow the obstacles of live get in her way of providing a healthy happy live for her young son. She persevered, graduated college, found a full time job at what was then Algoma Steel and even saved enough money to buy a place to call home.

As you all know, this accomplishment in its self is one to be extremely proud of.  Samantha had fought for what she wanted and had succeeded. She just didn’t know at the time that life was about to give her another hurtle to climb, one that by herself was to be the fight of her life.

In the fall of 2006, Samantha  began to develop strange symptoms that included loss of vision, loss of memory and paralysis in her face. She was diagnosed as having Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare side effect to the flu shot. The symptoms progressed to the point that her speech and mobility were affected.  “This is a neurological condition that causes weakness and paralysis throughout the body.  The body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. These symptoms can increase in intensity until certain muscles cannot be used at all and, when severe, the person is almost totally paralyzed. In these cases the disorder is life threatening – potentially interfering with breathing and, at times, with blood pressure or heart rate – and is considered a medical emergency.”

Sam’s case was extreme and she was air-lifted to Thunder Bay to undergo neurological treatment. It seemed she was on the road to recovery but, sadly, upon returning home she developed a brain infection that left her wracked with tremors and affected her balance and ability to walk. The prognosis was dire and it was feared that she would never walk again.

Doctor’s told her that she would never be able to walk without the aid of a walker 
She said “Yes, I will” and she did.
After having surgery on neck to have some rods put in to stabilize her discs
Doctor’s said she would never work again. She said “Yes, I will” and she did.

But the constant pain from the nerve damage she had suffered made sitting down for long periods unbearable, over time it became evident that she had to leave the job she had worked so hard to secure. The final blow came when after repeated trips to the hospital, she was diagnosed with Frontal Lobe Atrophy.

Frontal Lobe Atrophy is a reduction in the size of the frontal lobe.  As it progresses, the patient develops planning, emotional regulation, movement and critical thinking impairments and eventually movement disorders, shaking, moving slowly and difficulty with fine motor tasks.  
There is no cure for this disease

Today Samantha is no longer able to work, uses a walker and has trouble speaking.  She has lost her house and is now living in an apartment with her son.  Samantha  is struggling to cover the expenses of care for herself and for her son. She has been dealt a tragic hand but through it all Sam is upbeat, and positive. She manages to feel for everyone  and every creature around her.

The disease and hardship has NOT managed to put out Samantha’s light and faith that good things will come

Let’s Keep Samantha’s Light Shining Throughout the Christmas Season

A campaign has been set up by Samantha’s family and friends through “Go Fund Me“. The team at SaultOnline would like to encourage all those that feel compelled to help to share this plea with your friends on Facebook/Twitter. If you would like to make a donation, simply click on the image of Samantha below and you will be taken to her donation page.