Team Cath
Donation protected
A doctor once said, “Want to imagine what Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is like? Fast for 24 hours. Donate a pint of blood. Turn your temperature up to 100 degrees. Stand motionless. Enjoy your symptoms.” He was pretty spot on.
That’s a quick insight into what I am hoping to conquer using this GoFundMe. I have been living under these (and worse) conditions for the past 4 years and 8 months, and doctors have been unable to offer a solution until just recently; I finally have an opportunity to be hopeful and take the necessary steps toward regaining my health. In order to do so, I need your help. You can read more about my story below. I am so grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way, and to all of you who will help me continue on this path to healing.
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Catherine Mulhern, and I’m 22 years old. Back in January of 2012, when I was a senior in high school, I started to notice that my vision was going blurry; sometimes it would be blurry close up in my left eye, other times far away in my right, or blurry in both eyes. This symptom was soon joined by extreme fatigue, dizziness, both when sitting and upon standing... darkening vision, tunnel vision, and floaters... overwhelming brain fog, hot flashes, and terrible headaches, all of which were chronic. During the next five months I saw multiple neurologists, cardiologists, and naturopathic doctors while struggling to make it to and through school. A few months before graduation I finally received a diagnosis: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which you can read more about here. Being a syndrome, we knew there was some deeper underlying cause that was the true root of my health problems, but it was nice to have a partial name to what I was dealing with. Although I found some relief with medication for a few months, it was minimal and my symptoms soon returned full force.
This was the beginning of 4 years and 8 months of searching for the underlying cause to my POTS, during all of which time my symptoms have continued daily. It has been an incredibly difficult 4.8 years in just about every aspect possible—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Without going into too much detail, they have been years full of unfulfilled promises from doctors, years of countless tests, treatments, blood work, medications, and medical bills... years of starting college (three times to be exact) and dropping out because I was too weak and sick to continue... years of living from one doctor appointment to the next because I was unable to do anything in between, years of bedridden life... years of missing family get togethers and important events, and years of merely surviving, not actually "living" the way most of my friends experienced life. Yes, there have been happy moments, much laughter, and many blessings along the way, but the majority of these years have been dominated by my illness.
By the grace of God (and the intercession of His Blessed Mother), a little over a month ago we were finally able to find my underlying cause and the root of all of my health problems: Lyme’s Disease, which you can read more about here.
I am currently undergoing IV therapy twice a week, and the doctors are confident that they can help get me back on my feet, as they have helped many others in my condition in the past.* The process is slow, and will mostly likely take several months. I am writing to you today because my healing plan is also very costly, and I am humbly imploring you to help me fund my recovery. Your aid will give me the opportunity to live a life, full of joy and gratitude, with exuberance and energy again.
A single treatment costs between $1,400-$1,800, depending on the particular IVs I received in a given treatment (which consists of blood cleansing, up to five full IV bags, and a Vitamin D shot). Each IV plays a different and specific role, but in general, they help the body shed the toxins and infections that have been building up over the years, and help build my immune system, which is currently functioning at a 71 on a scale of 60-360.
The cost of treatment is high due to the fact that the contents of the IVs are very pure (no preservatives) and they are given to me in such high doses, which is necessary because the Lyme’s has gone uncaught and untreated for so long. Treatments are also this expensive because insurance has not helped cover a dollar of the cost up to this point (which has been 10 treatments over a six week period). My parents are working to get the help of insurance, but the extent to which insurance will help, and if they will help at all, is still unknown.
These effective yet costly treatments are adding up quickly for myself and my family. On top of this expense, my parents (who have generously assisted as my sole source of funding) also have expenses that come with supporting our happy family of nine children, two of whom they are currently putting through college.
I will most likely need 15-30 treatments minimum, in addition to the $2,000 of initial blood work taken before I started treatment, and any further blood work that I need to check my progress. Additionally, GoFundMe charges a fee of 7.9% of total donations. All of these considerations result in my goal for $35,000 raised.
Worst case scenario, this is $35,000 that goes toward another treatment that helps, but not necessarily to the extent that I am hoping for; Best case scenario, this is the $35,000 that will help me get my life back.
Thank you in advance for your prayers and donations, they mean more than I could ever put into words.
With love and gratitude,
Cath
*Updates on my current treatment can be found on the Team Cath Facebook page.
That’s a quick insight into what I am hoping to conquer using this GoFundMe. I have been living under these (and worse) conditions for the past 4 years and 8 months, and doctors have been unable to offer a solution until just recently; I finally have an opportunity to be hopeful and take the necessary steps toward regaining my health. In order to do so, I need your help. You can read more about my story below. I am so grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way, and to all of you who will help me continue on this path to healing.
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Catherine Mulhern, and I’m 22 years old. Back in January of 2012, when I was a senior in high school, I started to notice that my vision was going blurry; sometimes it would be blurry close up in my left eye, other times far away in my right, or blurry in both eyes. This symptom was soon joined by extreme fatigue, dizziness, both when sitting and upon standing... darkening vision, tunnel vision, and floaters... overwhelming brain fog, hot flashes, and terrible headaches, all of which were chronic. During the next five months I saw multiple neurologists, cardiologists, and naturopathic doctors while struggling to make it to and through school. A few months before graduation I finally received a diagnosis: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which you can read more about here. Being a syndrome, we knew there was some deeper underlying cause that was the true root of my health problems, but it was nice to have a partial name to what I was dealing with. Although I found some relief with medication for a few months, it was minimal and my symptoms soon returned full force.
This was the beginning of 4 years and 8 months of searching for the underlying cause to my POTS, during all of which time my symptoms have continued daily. It has been an incredibly difficult 4.8 years in just about every aspect possible—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Without going into too much detail, they have been years full of unfulfilled promises from doctors, years of countless tests, treatments, blood work, medications, and medical bills... years of starting college (three times to be exact) and dropping out because I was too weak and sick to continue... years of living from one doctor appointment to the next because I was unable to do anything in between, years of bedridden life... years of missing family get togethers and important events, and years of merely surviving, not actually "living" the way most of my friends experienced life. Yes, there have been happy moments, much laughter, and many blessings along the way, but the majority of these years have been dominated by my illness.
By the grace of God (and the intercession of His Blessed Mother), a little over a month ago we were finally able to find my underlying cause and the root of all of my health problems: Lyme’s Disease, which you can read more about here.
I am currently undergoing IV therapy twice a week, and the doctors are confident that they can help get me back on my feet, as they have helped many others in my condition in the past.* The process is slow, and will mostly likely take several months. I am writing to you today because my healing plan is also very costly, and I am humbly imploring you to help me fund my recovery. Your aid will give me the opportunity to live a life, full of joy and gratitude, with exuberance and energy again.
A single treatment costs between $1,400-$1,800, depending on the particular IVs I received in a given treatment (which consists of blood cleansing, up to five full IV bags, and a Vitamin D shot). Each IV plays a different and specific role, but in general, they help the body shed the toxins and infections that have been building up over the years, and help build my immune system, which is currently functioning at a 71 on a scale of 60-360.
The cost of treatment is high due to the fact that the contents of the IVs are very pure (no preservatives) and they are given to me in such high doses, which is necessary because the Lyme’s has gone uncaught and untreated for so long. Treatments are also this expensive because insurance has not helped cover a dollar of the cost up to this point (which has been 10 treatments over a six week period). My parents are working to get the help of insurance, but the extent to which insurance will help, and if they will help at all, is still unknown.
These effective yet costly treatments are adding up quickly for myself and my family. On top of this expense, my parents (who have generously assisted as my sole source of funding) also have expenses that come with supporting our happy family of nine children, two of whom they are currently putting through college.
I will most likely need 15-30 treatments minimum, in addition to the $2,000 of initial blood work taken before I started treatment, and any further blood work that I need to check my progress. Additionally, GoFundMe charges a fee of 7.9% of total donations. All of these considerations result in my goal for $35,000 raised.
Worst case scenario, this is $35,000 that goes toward another treatment that helps, but not necessarily to the extent that I am hoping for; Best case scenario, this is the $35,000 that will help me get my life back.
Thank you in advance for your prayers and donations, they mean more than I could ever put into words.
With love and gratitude,
Cath
*Updates on my current treatment can be found on the Team Cath Facebook page.
Organizer
Catherine Mulhern
Organizer
Phoenix, AZ