Chattaroy woman seeks community’s help

Chattaroy resident Terry Foote had suffered from a series of health problems for many years. Doctors misdiagnosed her with everything from MS to lupus. Two years ago, Rockwood Clinic physician Catherine Lee discovered Foote had Behcet’s disease, a rare, chronic disorder with no known cure.

Behcet’s disease involves inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body. It’s a multisystem disease that may also involve the central nervous system, resulting in memory loss and impaired balance and movement.

“I would walk down the halls at work and just fall over,” Foote said. “I’ve worked for 35 years, but for the last two and a half years, I’ve been bedridden.”

Paula Watkins, who has known Foote for 22 years, said, “Every aspect of her life has been impacted by this disease.” She spoke fondly of the birthday dinners Foote loved to host, and the big holiday meals she cooked for friends and family. “She’s very generous and giving.”

Despite all she’s suffered, Foote retains her easy laugh and optimistic outlook.

More importantly, she’s been given a chance to fight back and regain some of the quality of life she’s lost over the past few years. Foote’s been accepted into a clinical trial at Northwestern University in Chicago. The FDA-approved trial is a self-stem cell transplant. Her cells will be harvested, cleaned and put back into her following a rigorous and risky round of chemotherapy. She would be only the third person to undergo this experimental treatment.

Her medical insurance will pay for the treatment and Mercy Med has provided her airfare. However, she and her partner of 12 years, Aaron Medres, are both on disability and have no way to pay for their food and housing. They’ve been told to plan to stay in Chicago from two to four months, and recently found out that housing alone will cost $2,750 per month.

“We’re on a tight deadline now,” Foote said. “I’m due in Chicago on February 11.” So far the couple has enough funds for just less than one month. “It’s a real leap of faith to make this trip,” she said.

Foote’s friends have been posting fliers from Newport, Wash., to Spokane to let the public know that this local woman needs their help. Donations are being accepted at any area US Bank, under Terry’s Behcet’s (Bechet’s) Fund.

“Terry’s a loving, selfless person,” said Watkins. “She deserves this chance to have a better quality of life.”