Get Debbie from aching to baking!

Our daughter, sister, aunt and friend Debbie is suffering with Guttate Psoriasis. For those who don’t know what this is, it’s an autoimmune disease, meaning your body treats your own cells like invaders and attacks them. You might get it only once, or you could have several flare-ups. In some cases, this type of psoriasis doesn’t go away. Uncommon, only up to 10% of people with psoriasis have this type. It causes the skin to peel at a rapid rate, 2 layers of skin per day whereas a normal person would lose 1 layer every 28 days. With the help of your doctor, you can find a treatment to keep your symptoms under control. However, until the right treatment is found it is extremely painful to live with.

In June of this year, Debbie caught a cold. Three and a half weeks in to this cold she developed swollen glands in her throat which prompted her to go to the hospital. It was said to be a cold and she went home. Within 48 hours of this she began to break out in what looked like hives all over her body. It worsened and worsened; she went back to the doctor and found out that she is suffering from Guttate Psoriasis as a result of an undiagnosed Strep Throat infection that is now a lifetime affliction.

Debbie’s case is extremely bad, she is losing her skin so rapidly that she’s been living in nothing but cotton pajamas for most of the summer and only going out when she goes to the doctor. She is in constant pain and discomfort as the peeling cracks from dryness and is extremely itchy. Her hands have peeled so much she no longer has cuticles around her nails, and she can see the blood vessels in her fingertips. Since the beginning of August she’s been unable to work and is unable to until it is cleared up. To date has had 16 different prescriptions totally more than $1000. The medication she is currently taking, Soriatane, is costly ($200/month) and has a myriad of possible side effects, abdominal pain, dry eyes, diarrhea, fatigue, gum swelling or bleeding, headache, mouth sores to name a few. It will take up to 3 months to show any improvement, during which time she will have next to no income. In the meantime if the side effects are too great, the doctor will need to keep trying new medication until they can find one that works which will prolong her recovery. As a last resort the doctor may prescribe biologic shots that are given every three months and cost $5200 per shot.

Debbie will have this for the rest of her life and while over time it will be managed through medication, she’s feeling the pinch right now of being out of work and having no income. She’s overwhelmed by the support and willingness of family and friends wanting to help out. Anything you can offer by way of a donation will help to allow her to focus on her recovery vs worrying over how to pay the surmounting pile of bills! Thank you so much for your support!