What was supposed to be a joyous occasion has turned into an extended nightmare. My parents had planned to visit me at Pitzer College for family weekend from November 7 -9. However, a week before they were supposed to travel I came down with a mysterious skin condition with a full body rash and inflamed legs and feet. After visiting Claremont Student Health upon the worry of my friends and family, on October 28 I was sent to the emergency room at Pomona Valley Medical Center. My parents had to change their travel plans immediately.

I spent 4 days (including my birthday) in the hospital on IV antibiotics and was discharged with oral. That weekend I felt confident I was nearing my old self, but instead relapsed with chills, slimy and itchy skin, and inflammation Monday night. We met with an allergist who prescribed a different antibiotic (as it seemed my body was not responding) and gave me a steroid shot. Once again, I felt I was returning to normalcy over that weekend, even planning an academic return for the coming week. But to my deep disgust and frustration, that Monday I once again relapsed. This time with cracked skin and chills which made it hard to walk, and the inflamed infection spreading to previously uncharted territory: my face and scalp. I was sent back to the hospital. This time it was recommended we travel to the UC Irvine Medical Center as they have specialists on staff in rheumatology and dermatology. They told me today that I will have to be here at UCI for at least another two days.

The doctors are a bit baffled by my condition. They have run a multitude (50+) blood tests. They think I had an allergic reaction to something in the environment that triggered the atopic dermatitis which caused the inflammation and ultimately the infection. Why I relapsed twice while on antibiotics is not clear.

My parents are worried that once I leave the hospital I will relapse again.

I was a healthy 19 year old enjoying my first year of college. I want to get back to being healthy and living my life at its fullest.

I decided to start a GoFundMe campaign to help my parents cover travel expenses and to pay my medical bills. I have student health insurance through Aetna, but they have a 20% copay for hospital stays and a $8500 out of pocket yearly maximum which I am sure I will reach. Please help my family as we navigate returning back to normalcy, and finding a solution to this life-disrupting condition.