Over the past nine months Annika’s life has been completely turned upside-down by serious illness.

You may know Annika Victoria from their YouTube channel, where for years they taught sewing, upcycling and socially responsible DIY fashion.

Now they need the community’s help.

Since a serious UTI in December, Annika’s Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and dysautonomia have become much more severe.

They have developed complications affecting multiple parts of their body - including their cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, vascular, pelvic, kidneys, immune and nervous systems - and they have never properly recovered.

Their family has already spent more than $175,000 on medical care since December - thankfully with $118K coming from generous donations!! - but the costs are continuing.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of this community, Annika has been able to see specialists, access rehabilitation and keep searching for treatments that might improve their health and quality of life. They are working incredibly hard to get better.

But there have been devastating setbacks along the way.

In recent months, Annika has faced:

* A newly discovered papillary thyroid carcinoma

* Severe dysautonomia and cardiovascular instability

* Debilitating gastrointestinal dysfunction and dysbiosis, making eating and maintaining nutrition increasingly difficult

* Multiple vascular compressions that may be worsening blood flow and dysautonomia

* Severe pelvic organ prolapse, requiring extensive rehabilitation

* Ongoing neurological and craniocervical problems

* The reality that even highly specialised doctors often have no simple or immediate treatment available

Annika has applied for both NDIS and palliative-care support, but so far has been unable to access either.

They will keep trying. But these systems are slow, difficult to navigate and often inaccessible to people living with complex illness.

Their medical needs cannot wait for those systems to catch up.

Annika’s parents are currently their main carers, while also trying to manage an enormous financial and emotional burden. The family urgently needs help to keep Annika safe, supported and able to continue accessing treatment.

Your donation will help pay for:

* Support workers, nursing care and respite for Annika’s parents

* Specialist appointments and allied health care, including physiotherapy, psychology, counselling and dietetics

* Rehabilitation for neurological, autonomic, pelvic and craniocervical problems

* Nutrition support, specialised diets and elemental nutrition when needed

* Medications and supplements, currently costing thousands of dollars each month

* Medical equipment and quality of life supports (such as braces, specialized garments, medical recliners, specialised pillows etc)

* Extensive testing not fully covered by Medicare

* Treatment for severe gastrointestinal dysbiosis, including FMT and SIBO treatment

* Ongoing mould remediation to reduce severe reactions in their water-damaged home

* Cleaning, meal preparation and other daily-living support

Through their work, Annika has spent years sharing their creativity, knowledge and skills freely with others, teaching people how to sew, mend, upcycle, advocate for themselves and keep creating through difficult circumstances.

Now they need some of that care returned to them.

If you are able to donate, even a small amount genuinely helps keep Annika accessing the care and support they need.

And if you cannot donate, please share this fundraiser. Reaching one more person can make an enormous difference.

Thank you for helping Annika access the care and quality of life that they deserve ❤️