HELP BAILEE PAY FOR MEDICAL BILLS
Hoping to find financial support with medical expenses caused by Chron’s Disease.
Hi everyone, my name is Bailee and firstly I want to say thank you for taking the time to read my story. Asking for help has always been out of my nature, but with some encouragement from loved ones, I agreed that I should open up about myself.
I’m 18 years old and have been financially supporting myself since I was 15. For as long as I can remember, i’ve struggled with severe internal pain- to the point where for years when I would use the bathroom it would be nothing but blood. Due to lack of support and parent negligence, I was never taken to receive medical attention. In 2019, my mom lost custody of me and I was finally taken to a hospital where I was diagnosed with a chronic illness called Ulcerative Colitis. After my diagnosis, I wasn’t taken back for any follow ups. I was underage and wasn’t capable of doing it myself until now.
As years have passed without proper medication and treatment, my disease has gotten increasingly worse and led to further complications. The inflammation has spread through my body causing me to develop ulcers throughout my entire digestive system (Chrons Disease), as well as on the surface of my skin. I had surgery in August 2021 and am now currently struggling with multiple flare ups on my lower right leg and my left calf.
I was diagnosed with a rare skin condition called Pyoderma Gangrenosum. When a flare begins, they start as small dark circles similar to a bruise that exponentially grow in size and progress into a pus and blood filled bubble on my skin. When they finally burst they leave a deep infected wound in my skin. They are completely unpredictable and not much research has been done on the prevention of this. The current solution to this is scheduling a Dermatologist visit when I notice a flare up and receive a steroid injection in the wound. Each visit requires a copay and I have visited the dermatologist copious amounts of times in only the past few weeks. This will continue.
A few months ago I was misdiagnosed with having a bartholin cyst. I returned to the OBGYN numerous times, only to be told there is nothing that they can do. Due to this misdiagnoses, months have passed with no medical treatment and it has ruptured into a rectovaginal fistula and formed 4 other fistulas. I am currently in the process of starting Remicade and will be getting a pelvic MRI scan. Due to the progression of this inflammation, I now have to have fistualotomy surgery.
Despite my best efforts, I have lost multiple jobs. Most days I cannot sleep due to pain, walking becomes unbearable from the ulcers on my legs, and the pain in my abdomen causes me to regularly throw up. It feels like my youth has been robbed of me. Having to survive without the support of a parent has forced me to struggle in so many aspects. On a day to day basis, I heavily struggle with chronic pain and as a result- it takes an extreme toll on my mental health. I have lost a lot of weight and a great amount of hair due to the stress and I fear losing 100% of it. The lack of parent support in my life has caused me to grow up a lot faster than I should have. I currently live alone where I pay my own bills and financially provide everything for myself, as I have since i was a child. I have applied for disability, but it takes months to get a response. This money would go towards all medical expenses including doctors visits, medications, procedure costs, first aid, copays etc.
Again, thank you so much for your time and support. Anything you can do to help by just sharing or donating is extremely appreciated. More than anything I want to feel comfortable in my own body and feel like I’m myself again. Please take care of yourselves and stay safe. <3
Links:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pyoderma-gangrenosum/symptoms-causes/syc-20350386
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anal-fistula/symptoms-causes/syc-20352871
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rectovaginal-fistula/symptoms-causes/syc-20377108