“This could probably kill me” Idaho Falls woman lives with rare disease
An Idaho Falls girl is living with a rare disease- and her family is desperate to find answers. It’s called Gastroparesis, it makes it difficult for her to eat pretty much anything.
“She has a lot to live for and she has a lot she has to do, and I want to make sure she can do it,” said Debbie Moore, Stephanie Tangan’s mother.
A few years ago if you asked Stephanie Tangan how she’d be spending her days at age nineteen, it looked nothing like it does now. “I wanted to be in college i wanted to be on my way to doing what I love and get a sociology degree, maybe be with someone getting engaged or I don’t know,”said Tangan.
About a year ago she was an honor student set to study at Montana State University until the day things turned south “Ipassed out in my dorms hallway,” said Tangan. After multiple trips to the hospital she got the news, she is living with Gastroparesis.”It’s basically when your stomach is paralyzed,” said Tangan.
On a good day, Tangan can stomach pasta but for the most part she can sometimes eat chicken and rice. The big favorite food of hers she misses- is red meat.
“My pain is constant and it’s there and it stabs” “I sleep a lot because I’m exhausted all the time” said Tangan. She also has a broken rib on top of it all, she’s currently wearing a brace and a has a pace maker inside of her, that sticks out of her stomach.
Which is why in a couple of months Tangan will be heading to the Mayo clinic in search for some answers and possible surgical procedures. Her positive demeanor is contagious to say the least, but she admits to not being naive that Gastroparesis could ultimately be what kills her. Her mother holds the same perseverance and optimism. “I’m not ready to give up, i’m not ready to accept that she’s been given a certain amount of time,” said Moore.
The uncertainty is the most challenging part for the family and while they’re grateful for the opportunity to go the Mayo clinic, it’s a financial burden. A family friend set up an online fundraiser to help raise funds for the family in hopes of getting more answers on the disease.
