Trandem family supported through health challenges

Despite facing health challenges this past year in the form of a condition called Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Eve Trandem and her family are hopeful for what the future has in store and are working toward managing her symptoms and improving her quality of life.  
FND is a rare condition that affects the functioning of the nervous system and how the brain and body send and receive signals. While FND symptoms can present similar to Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, those have a structural component. FND is described as more of a ‘software’ problem on a computer versus a ‘hardware’ problem. Functional Neurological Disorders include a variety of physical, sensory, and cognitive symptoms. Perpetuating factors create new neuropathways, which eventually cause changes in the brain. Symptoms wax and wane, including remissions and sudden recurrences. It is common for other illnesses or physical situations to trigger symptoms. Most patients do not get completely cured but can improve their condition.
“Several doctors I’ve seen are interested in my case medically, and they want to know more about it, but there aren't a lot of treatments or solutions,” Eve said. The most common symptoms include limb weakness, paralysis, movements such as tics and spasms, seizures, slurred speech, pain, dissociation, bladder symptoms, anxiety, and memory loss. Studies show that factors such as stress, physical injury, and pain can exacerbate symptoms.  
“I can appear ‘normal’ one minute and debilitated the next, and anywhere in between,’ said Eve, ‘I’m quite self-conscious of how I appear in public.”  Her husband Casey Trandem added that “She wants to be able to be in public and not worry about how she looks if she’s not okay in that moment.”
She says her local health care provider has been a blessing through the whole experience.
“My primary doctor  meets with me every month regardless of how I’m doing just as a standard checkup,” Eve said. “She’s really been amazing. That’s been a positive experience with this.”
Eve added that Falkenburg meets with one of her other doctors weekly to collaborate since there is still much to be learned about the condition.
They also spent a week at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and another at The Recovery Project in Michigan. Eve said that although Mayo and other specialist clinics she has been to have been helpful, there is an advantage to local health care providers.
“My local team is passionate about my treatment, consistently working to research treatments and collaborate with one another. Relationships and a knowledge of personal history that local providers bring to patient care is an advantage we don’t get in larger communities,” she said.
Other alternative medicines are also being explored. The Trandems are headed to The Functional Neurology Center in Minnesota, which has a team of chiropractors and a neurologist. The center offers five-to-11-day programs and focuses on addressing the underlying causes of the condition as well as managing the symptoms.
“It’s a bit of a different approach from traditional western medicine,” said Eve. “The focus is more diagnostic and retraining the brain rather than a focus on symptoms.”
The family is hopeful that the center will bring  results.
Work has been another challenge for Eve, who is the director of special education for the Custer School District. This year an interim director was hired while she is on leave. Her last day was Oct. 27.
“The Custer School has been phenomenal in their support to Casey and me. While I struggle with the impact my leave of absence has had and the extra workload added to others, (superintendent) Mr. (Mark) Naugle and the board of education have been 100 percent supportive and caring,” Eve said. “They have supported all accommodations throughout the journey without hesitation, only asking how they can help further.”  
While Trandem has been on a leave of absence, other administrators and the Special Education Department have stepped up to help. Before her leave of absence, the school tried having her responsibilities reduced, and she was able to work and attend meetings remotely. Others pitched in to share her workload.
“The school has allowed all accomodations asked for. They have been really amazing,” Eve said.
Sonja Tennyson, the school district’s behavioral therapist said, “Everyone in our district has been very supportive of Eve. Our school board, superintendent, administrative team, and special education department have been incredibly flexible, understanding and caring. She has been missed greatly in her absence, but everyone wants her to take the time to heal herself.”
Trandem’s daughter, Siri Trandem, who now lives in Sioux Falls said the community has been very supportive. She says that one of the best ways to show support to the family, especially to Eve, is to just let her know that you care.
“It’s hard to watch the person who took care of you need that same care back,” Siri said. “She puts on a strong face, but she’s struggling. She’s just the strongest person I know.”
“For me, as her husband, the biggest help has been her positive attitude,” Casey said. “Obviously she gets down sometimes and feels hopeless, but really for the most part she keeps her chin up and deals with it better than anyone would expect her to.”
Another way to show support is through a GoFundMe fundraiser which has been organized by Sonja Tennyson, who said, “Eve is one of the most thoughtful and caring people I know. She has done so much for the staff and students at Custer School District. Eve goes above and beyond to ensure that her staff and students have what they need to succeed.
“Always the first one to step up and offer help to others, Eve spreads sunshine wherever she goes. I joke with her that accepting help isn’t one of her strengths. Eve is humble and selfless and doesn’t want sympathy or pity from others.”
Tennyson set up the fundraiser  to  help cover costs of going to The Functional Neurology Center since many treatments are not covered by insurance.
“One way our community can support Eve is to increase awareness,” said Tennyson. “Whether it is health issues, mental health concerns, conflicts at home, or financial stress, everyone is dealing with something, and often, you have no idea what someone else is struggling with. I believe Eve would want the community to be compassionate to one another; you don’t know the battle the person next to you is fighting, so be kind to everyone.”
veryone.”
It is suggested to make more time for the people and things you love and less for the things that don’t meet that criterion which is something Eve is aiming to accomplish. The Trandems would also like to express their gratitude toward the people in the community who have done so much to support them in the past year and a half, especailly friends, family, those in the school district as well as the people at at their church.
“My family and I are in awe of the support we’ve received that the Custer community is well known for,” Eve said. “Setting aside my ego and allowing others to help has been one of the most challenging and humbling aspects of this journey. People in the community, even those I don’t know personally, are so eager to help. It’s much easier to give than receive and it’s my goal to get back to that point.”
The GoFundMe for Eve can be found at  gofundme.com/f/help-give-eve-some-sunshine.