Hi, my name is Autumn Bauer, I am 19 years old! I am a recent grad and just started my career in the Missouri National Guard. I’ve been struggling with my health for a few years but recently I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, a chronic autoimmune disease. I spent many weeks in st. Lukes before going to Mizzou for treatment. While at mizzou hospital I struggled with my illness along with bronchitis and tuberculosis complications. During my stay I lost ability to eat, walk, and really just live any sort of healthy lifestyle. With no appetite, or ability to swallow, I lost 50 pounds and my muscles deteriorated. This was probably the biggest struggle because I then Suffered with severe anxiety and depression. I went through an UNCOUNTABLE amount of tests, labs, procedures. I was poked and prodded 24/7, I had Lost every since of myself. To make things worth I was not allowed to have visitors and my dad (the only authorized person) only had a certain amount of given hours he could be with me. After a month of tb meds I was able to start a new treatment for my Crohn’s. The severity of my disease had taken over my whole body, my whole gi tract had been covered in ulcers causing internal bleeding which led to 8 blood transfusions and multiple other supplements for my many low labs.

At this point of my stay we didn’t know if I would pull through, I was at a point so low physically and mentally I did not want to fight anymore. I was Very close to death, but thankfully my dad was there and I refused to give up. My doctors were also at a point they wanted to give up on waiting for a treatment option and just take my colon out. However, we persevered and finally started Remicade (inflixamab)!

Inflixamab is an immunosuppressive drug that is a form of chemotherapy. It has worked WONDERS for me. I was able to go home 3 weeks after starting it. Going home has offered me so much more support. It hasn’t been all good, I needed 24/7 around the clock care, special diets, and physical therapy to re learn how to walk. But as most people already know, I work super hard and refuse to let a disease take me out!

This is an illness that I will have for the rest of my life but with proper treatment, dieting, and lifestyle o can and WILL live a long happy life.

My family and I are asking for financial help to cover the months of medical care I underwent and for my treatments needed to fully heal. We just found out that my insurance will no longer cover my treatments, that without will cause me to relapse. This treatment is thousands of dollars every dose and is a huge financial burden to my parents. I am unable to work due to my illness as of right now and in college. We are just asking for a little help from anyone who is willing. It would mean the world to me to know my family doesn’t have to struggle to pay for my Illness.