Help Caroline Get Medical Treatment

I met Caroline in college, where we were suitemates in the freshman dorms, and continued to be friends throughout our time as students. When I graduated in 2018, she was a bridesmaid in my wedding, and we've kept up a regular correspondence ever since. Sadly, she's facing some huge challenges this year. She's given me permission to share her story below.

 

Caroline Writes:

 

October 6, 2021, 10:30 PM. I found myself in the emergency room, unable to swallow my own saliva, reeling from a concussion, and dazed by the terrifying reality that I was now 55lbs and homeless. As the doctors fought to help my body stabilize, I tried to piece together the fragments of my story. While the IVs dripped life-saving nutrients, the truth started to shine through the fog.

 

I remembered leaving my home, desperate to find a life of freedom from the pain that ravaged my body. I didn’t know it at the time but PTSD was also at play, stealing not only my job and my home, but also my health. I remember looking into the mirror one day and seeing my own skeleton gazing back at me, my bulging eyes begging for help. Delusions and hallucinations clouded my judgement. I didn’t know what to do or who to trust. Finally, on October 6, a friend reached out and offered to go with me to the ER. I don’t know what force empowered me to agree, but that is the night I began my journey.

 

Over the next 15 days, I shifted in and out of consciousness as my body fought for survival. Tests revealed three esophageal ulcers and a congenitally defective esophageal sphincter. This means that acid has continuously burned my esophagus for the past 25 years, triggering an eating disorder that fueled the chronic malnutrition. On October 18, I was diagnosed with anemia of chronic disease and received my first blood transfusion. On October 20, I was discharged from the hospital. Once again, I faced the stark reality of my severe malnourishment and homelessness.

 

I decided to seek help from a facility specialized in treating severe malnutrition as well as PTSD. On November 1, I took my savings and set out on my journey of rebuilding a life of hope and freedom. The path to healing, peace, and truth is not an easy one. Each day, I face not only the physical pain of the ulcers and reflux, but also the emotional pain of the trauma that has been buried inside for the past two decades. There are mountains ahead of me, but I intend to scale them one by one and to one. I would like to raise $15,000 towards my treatment which costs about $1,200 per day. Any amount raised will go towards covering medical treatment, labwork, and trauma therapy.

 

Would you consider joining me on my journey?

 

Caroline