Christin's battle with MCTD
Donation protected
Hello!
I write this to you all with sadness in my heart concerning my health and well-being… I never expected in my wildest dreams I would be writing to you all for help and support, but I have recently been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that will greatly impact me for the rest of my life.
Some of you may know me well and others not as much. My name is Christin, 34 years old, a proud pharmacy technician hoping to one day return to my work at the Veterans Hospital, dog mom, goal getter, and fitness lover. Sadly, these attributes and so many others have been fading away for me. Over a year ago I began having serious health concerns. It began slowly with little things like fatigue, pain, and a lot of sleeping… I brushed it off thinking it was just a long day at work or some other excuse related to the way I could live my life before what happened next. I began having trouble breathing, severe chest pain, and joint pain. After my attempt to brush this off too (typical me!), I had two emergency room visits – one lasting 3 long days, a heart monitor, multiple specialists, blood draws, MRIs, x-rays, and what felt like every other possible test available. During my 7 month search for a diagnosis, I became sicker every day. I could barely breath, I couldn’t walk, I started using a wheelchair, my pain continued to increase throughout my whole body, and my level of consciousness decreased. After finding a team of specialists in Ohio at the Cleveland Clinic, I was diagnosed with incurable Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Raynauds, Pericarditis and Fibromyalgia. My option was to begin aggressive treatment immediately or I would not be here much longer. I thought this was the end but multiple treatments did not work. Currently my only treatment option is to receive Rituxan IV infusions multiple times in one year, while each infusion costs upwards of $47,000.
Throughout this time I have incurred costs from doctor’s appointments, treatments, and tests. I am struggling to make ends meet, I’ve lost things I never expected, my daily life will never be the same, and I’m beginning to lose what I do have left. I appreciate any possible donations, each person who took the time to read this, and prayers. Thank you!
I write this to you all with sadness in my heart concerning my health and well-being… I never expected in my wildest dreams I would be writing to you all for help and support, but I have recently been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that will greatly impact me for the rest of my life.
Some of you may know me well and others not as much. My name is Christin, 34 years old, a proud pharmacy technician hoping to one day return to my work at the Veterans Hospital, dog mom, goal getter, and fitness lover. Sadly, these attributes and so many others have been fading away for me. Over a year ago I began having serious health concerns. It began slowly with little things like fatigue, pain, and a lot of sleeping… I brushed it off thinking it was just a long day at work or some other excuse related to the way I could live my life before what happened next. I began having trouble breathing, severe chest pain, and joint pain. After my attempt to brush this off too (typical me!), I had two emergency room visits – one lasting 3 long days, a heart monitor, multiple specialists, blood draws, MRIs, x-rays, and what felt like every other possible test available. During my 7 month search for a diagnosis, I became sicker every day. I could barely breath, I couldn’t walk, I started using a wheelchair, my pain continued to increase throughout my whole body, and my level of consciousness decreased. After finding a team of specialists in Ohio at the Cleveland Clinic, I was diagnosed with incurable Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Raynauds, Pericarditis and Fibromyalgia. My option was to begin aggressive treatment immediately or I would not be here much longer. I thought this was the end but multiple treatments did not work. Currently my only treatment option is to receive Rituxan IV infusions multiple times in one year, while each infusion costs upwards of $47,000.
Throughout this time I have incurred costs from doctor’s appointments, treatments, and tests. I am struggling to make ends meet, I’ve lost things I never expected, my daily life will never be the same, and I’m beginning to lose what I do have left. I appreciate any possible donations, each person who took the time to read this, and prayers. Thank you!
Organizer
Christin Jury
Organizer
Westland, MI