Help Ameri to heal from Topical Steroid Withdraw( TSW)

Introduction

Hi strangers and friends, my name is Ameri. I am a registered nurse from New Zealand and currently living independently in Sydney, Australia.

The Needs

The intention of this fundraiser is to alleviate my financial burden in order to receive urgent alternative medical treatment, including IV infusions from an integrative clinic located at Bangkok and Traditional Chinese Medicine at Singapore, to recover from fungal infection secondary to Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW).

Update: On Thursday 31st October, I received the unexpected news of made redundant. I will be unemployed starting from 17th December onwards to focus on my physical health. I intend to relocate due to the limited social support and increasing living expenses. Please find more details of my treatment plans under update tab.

The funds will contribute towards:

Despite having a full-time job as a nurse educator, I am struggling to pay for these urgent treatments. I have been battling TSW since 2022 and have spent approximately $30,000 AUD on naturopaths, general practice fees, monthly supplements, prescribed medications, and unexpected relocations (I have moved four times in the past 16 months).

My Health Journey

I have suffered from eczema and perioral dermatitis since I was 19 and used topical steroid cream intermittently. My healing journey began on New Year’s Eve in 2021 when I found myself in the emergency department at Auckland City Hospital due to rare side effects (autoimmune reactions: erythema nodosum and acute arthritis) after receiving my COVID booster vaccine. This was mandatory as I was working in cardiovascular intensive care, caring for COVID patients. Little did I know about the side effects that would follow after my rheumatologist prescribed me three months of oral prednisone (a steroid) while I was being investigated for lupus.

Soon after I began working at Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Emergency & Trauma Department, I woke up with widespread rashes all over my face and arms. Luckily, it was manageable, and I recovered until winter arrived. I unexpectedly had to leave my dream job in July 2023 after completing a six-month critical care nursing program for career progression.

Fortunately, I was offered a job as a clinical trial assistant in Sydney and relocated to pursue opportunities for healing and recovery from TSW. After my six-month probation, I soon realised that this new career path did not fulfill my purpose as a registered nurse. My core value is to help people and make an impact on their health. I took the risk to resign, returned home, and lived with my parents in New Zealand for four months before moving back to Sydney. My healing journey improved tremendously during this time, allowing me to socialise with friends, exercise (road cycling, Pilates, and gym), and start my new job as a nurse educator.

Unfortunately, the joy of living a normal life was short-lived after I moved into my new flat. My health quickly deteriorated within a month, resulting in hospitalisation for a skin infection. I was fortunate that a close friend financially supported my treatment costs, which helped my recovery after receiving four sessions of IV infusions from an integrative clinic in Bangkok in August. Two weeks after returning to Sydney, I realized my room was infested with black mold, which caused my health condition to relapse. I had to move out of the flat immediately, with help from my mum, who flew to Sydney from New Zealand.

This year has been the most challenging period of my healing journey from TSW. Over the past four weeks, I have become socially isolated with limited support and have been mostly homebound. My fungal skin infection and rashes continue to spread, affecting my arms, hands, and legs, which are covered in raw open wounds that restrict my ability to perform simple daily tasks such as cooking, showering, exercising, and driving. Other symptoms I have experienced in the past six months include:

The Positive Impact From Your Donation

From the bottom of my heart, I genuinely appreciate every donation, no matter how small, as it makes a difference. Your support will help me focus on my recovery without the stress of financial burden and will allow me to access the treatment I desperately need. It will offer me hope to regain my health and return to living my life.

Please consider sharing my story with your friends and family. Thank you for your generosity and support during this challenging time.