Please read the urgent update posted below ❤️❤️❤️ 

20 years old, Abigail was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy after five years of fighting for answers. Doctors have given her a prognosis of 2–7 years, and her treatment now focuses on improving the quality of life she has left. As her illness progresses, the cost of medications, mobility equipment, surgeries, and daily care continues to grow. This fundraiser will help Abigail focus on her health, her faith, and the time she has with the people she loves.

Her care now focuses on improving the quality of life she has left.

My name is Abigail, and this is my story.

For the past five years I have been fighting for answers about what has been happening in my body. What started with unexplained symptoms when I was younger slowly turned into years of hospital visits, tests, specialists, and diagnoses that never fully explained the bigger picture.

Recently my doctors confirmed that I have Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare and progressive neurological disease that affects the autonomic nervous system. This part of the nervous system controls things most people never think about such as heart rate, blood pressure, bladder function, digestion, balance, and many other automatic functions that keep our bodies stable.

My medical journey has been complicated, and along the way I have also been diagnosed with multiple serious conditions including

AHTP

POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia

Gastroparesis related to Multiple System Atrophy

Chronic manifestation of widespread autonomic failure due to damaged autonomic nerves (dysautonomia)

Prolonged QT Syndrome

Dysautonomia / Autonomic Neuropathy

Pseudo seizures

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (21 hydroxylase deficiency)

Hypovolemia

Mast Cell Disease

Anemia

GERD

Chronic migraines

Post concussion syndrome

Acute urinary retention (neurogenic)

Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction (NBD)

Progressive hearing and visual loss

My heart rate has reached over 230 beats per minute, and I have required cardioversion to stabilize my heart rhythm. I have spent multiple summers in the hospital, including time in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Because of my condition I am unable to work, and I cannot drive due to fainting episodes and vision loss. I rely on others to help me get to my many medical appointments and treatments.

I currently take over 30 medications, and only about half of them are covered by insurance. One of my heart failure medications alone costs 80 dollars every two weeks, and my monthly medication costs exceed 500 dollars.

My treatment plan now focuses on improving what quality of life I have and helping keep me comfortable as my illness progresses. Next month I will also undergo two major surgeries followed by rehabilitation.

Living with chronic illness and chronic pain has been incredibly difficult. Many days I feel like I am drowning trying to manage my health while also navigating the emotional reality of a terminal diagnosis.

My family and I are grieving the life I once imagined for myself and the life I may never get to live.

Adding financial stress on top of this feels overwhelming. Sometimes it feels like there is a price placed on simply being able to live comfortably within my illness. If possible, I do not want to spend the time I have left worrying about whether I can afford the care and equipment that will allow me to function.

I will never have the opportunity to travel the world, build a long career, or plan the future most people my age are working toward. This is an incredibly difficult time for me and for the people who love me.

One dream I still hold onto is to leave Canada at least once. There is so much of the world I will never get to experience, and being able to see even a small part of it would mean more to me than words can express.

My faith is also very important to me. If my health allows it, I would love to participate in mission work through my church. I want to spend the time I have helping others and making a difference in whatever ways I can. I do not want to leave this world feeling like my life had no purpose.

I had a very difficult childhood and left home at 15. I have spent much of my life fighting simply to survive and have never really had the chance to truly live. That is why improving my quality of life now means so much.

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How Donations Will Help

Donations will help support many of the medical costs that come with living with a progressive neurological disease.

Medications

Ongoing heart failure medications and essential prescriptions

Monthly medication costs exceeding $500

Health benefit coverage to help with medication expenses

Ensure and nutritional replacements needed due to gastroparesis

Mobility Equipment

Specialized tilt in space wheelchair

Roho pressure relief cushions

Rise and recline mobility chairs

Custom epilepsy helmet

Walker and cane as balance worsens

Wheelchair support equipment

Home Modifications

Wheelchair accessibility changes

Ceiling lifts and mobility supports

Bathroom accessibility modifications

Daily Medical Support Equipment

Bed supports and mobility aids

Abdominal binders and monitoring equipment

Hearing aids

Prescription glasses as my vision declines

Compression stockings

Catheters which remain expensive even with AADL coverage

Medical supplies including diapers required for Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction

Professional Care Support

In home caregiving assistance as my condition progresses

Transportation to Medical Care

Travel to frequent medical appointments

Trips to Calgary for treatments and plasma therapies

Transportation costs for family helping support my care

Living with a progressive neurological illness means that many of these needs will continue to increase over time.

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Estimated Medical and Support Costs

Living with Multiple System Atrophy requires ongoing care, specialized equipment, and medical support.

Medications

Monthly medications (30+ prescriptions, many not fully covered)

Approximately $500+ per month

Heart failure medication

Approximately $80 every two weeks ($160 per month)

Nutritional supplements for gastroparesis

Approximately $150 to $300 per month

Estimated yearly medication and nutrition costs

$8,000 to $10,000 per year

Mobility Equipment

Tilt in space specialized wheelchair

$5,000 to $10,000

Roho pressure relief cushion

$600 to $1,000

Rise and recline mobility chair

$1,500 to $3,000

Walker and cane for balance support

$200 to $500

Custom epilepsy helmet

$400 to $1,200

Medical Supplies

Catheters (even with AADL coverage)

$150 to $300 per month

Medical supplies for Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction

$150 to $350 per month

Compression stockings

$80 to $200 per pair

Abdominal binders and monitoring equipment

$100 to $300

Estimated yearly cost for supplies

$4,000 to $6,000 per year

Hearing and Vision Support

Hearing aids

$3,000 to $6,000

Prescription glasses as vision declines

$400 to $800

Home Accessibility Modifications

Wheelchair accessibility modifications

$3,000 to $10,000

Bathroom accessibility modifications

$5,000 to $15,000

Ceiling lifts and mobility supports

$3,000 to $8,000

Care Support

In home caregiving assistance

$20 to $35 per hour

Estimated yearly care costs

$10,000 to $40,000 depending on needs

Transportation to Medical Care

Travel to frequent specialist appointments

$150 to $400 per month

Trips to Calgary for treatments and specialist care

$1,500 to $3,000 per year

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Estimated Overall Financial Need

When combining medications, equipment, medical supplies, transportation, and accessibility needs, the total cost of care can exceed

$25,000 to $60,000+ over time.

Many of these costs are not fully covered by provincial healthcare or insurance.

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Sharing this is incredibly vulnerable for me, but I have learned that no one should have to face something like this alone.

With a prognosis of 2 to 7 years, I want to spend the time I have focusing on my health, my family, my faith, and helping others who are struggling with chronic illness feel less alone.

Any support whether through donations, sharing this page, or simply keeping me in your thoughts means more than words can express.

Your support will help make it possible for me to receive the treatment and care I need, maintain mobility and independence for as long as possible, and focus on the time I have with the people I love.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

-Abigail-Lynne Young