Abbie’s Journey to Wellness

You may have heard that Abbie Olson has been struggling with health issues over the past few years. She recently received a tough diagnosis called ANCA positive GPA Vasculitis. We will explain her story below.

Many of you have asked how you can help. The funds we are raising for Abbie and Liz are intended to alleviate the ongoing financial burden of travel expenses, alternative therapies and medicine costs, and other out of pocket medical expenses for them in the future. They will be saved specifically for these reasons. Any donation is tremendously appreciated.

Several years ago, Liz started to notice that any illness that Abbie was exposed to she seemed to pick up. Liz has brought her to countless doctors and specialists trying to get to the bottom of why Abbie struggled with chronic infection; bloody noses; nasal congestion, dizziness, fatigue, weight loss and sensitivity to pain. In late August after an ER visit with some unusual symptoms Abbie was misdiagnosed with a condition called HSP or IgA Vasculitis. She was given steroids on a month long taper. Towards the end of the taper her symptoms started to get much worse. On September 22nd Liz brought Abbie to the emergency room in Exeter for complaints of back pain in the area of her kidneys. After getting results from her labs, Abbie was immediately transported to Boston Children’s Hospital to be seen by a pediatric nephrologist. After a very long night in the ER she was admitted to the complex surgical floor.

Abbie’s admitting nephrology team worked tirelessly to run every imaginable test to get to the bottom of what was going on with her. After many scans, biopsies, and blood tests Liz sat down with the nephrology team and was given the devastating news that Abbie has a very rare form of vasculitis and that she was in renal failure.

Days after being diagnosed and before starting starting a much needed infusion to attack the vasculitis; the doctors discovered a rare fungi in Abbie’s lungs called PJP. This complicated treatment and made Abbie even more vulnerable.

In the following weeks Abbie went through dozens more tests; had a central line placed in her neck; went through many different treatments; including chemotherapy and plasma pheresis and other various medical interventions.

Abbie’s disease is called ANCA positive GPA Vasculitis. In short; the immune system attacks the small blood vessels in the body. It goes after the kidneys first. It commonly affects the lungs, eyes, ears, skin, mouth, nose etc. It is a systemic auto immune disease. Abbie’s diagnosis for her age is literally one in a million. Her condition is life long. The goal is remission with the hope of staying there- though relapse is possible.

The team at Boston Children’s Hospital saved Abbie’s life. Since discharge she continues to have frequent appointments, tests, and infusions at BCH. Her doctors are really pleased by her response to treatment. Although Abbie is heading in the direction of remission- there is still much work to be done to get her to 100%.

Abbie will be utilizing an alternative school schedule for the foreseeable future. For the time being she will attend school for 2-3hrs a day. Liz will continue to support and care for her at home.

Liz has poured hours of research into how she can best support Abbie. During Abbie’s hospital stay she responded well to weekly reiki treatments and medical massage. Abbie and family would like to continue these treatments outpatient for as long as possible.

Abbie’s doctors have also recommended acupuncture and support Liz’s beliefs in incorporating alternative methods of medicine and therapies to get her well. Abbie will regularly see a Chinese & Naturopathic medicine doctor in Portsmouth NH to help manage the side effects of the medications, to detox her body, reduce inflammation, and to help her body heal her kidney disease.

Because of her condition Abbie has a hypersensitivity to pain. Abbie will need some level of ongoing medical intervention for the rest of her life. We want her to learn the tools necessary to manage ongoing acute pain. After an extensive pain management center appointment it was suggested that virtual reality be introduced as a means of helping Abbie to manage acute pain in the future.

They greatly appreciate continued prayers and positive statements of support. Abbie is an incredibly resilient young lady. Liz and family are confident she can get on the other side of this and manage it. As a family they refuse to accept anything different.

Thank you in advance for any support you can give this incredible family who has been through so much!

Courtney Wittenstein & Aimee Mann