Help Idgie Heal

Thank you for taking a minute with us. My name is Vanessa and I am one of Idgies sisters. I am writing to you all to ask for your help in getting Idgie into a residential treatment program that focuses on healing from addiction as well as the pain and trauma that feeds it.  

We are losing Idgie to addiction. We are losing the sparkle and energy that is as much apart of them as breathing. Idgie is an amazing "Aunt" Batman and has been doing a beautiful job helping raise a little boy.  They connect with my boys in such a beautiful way. It melts my heart to see how they light up when Idgie arrives!

Their heart is huge and it's obvious for you to see. Idgie sees the good in everyone. Since they were very young they often put other people's needs ahead of their own.

Idgies chronic pain and struggle with addiction

About 10 years ago Idgie began experiencing “sourceless” full body pain. Commencing a years-long fight to identify, understand and have their chronic pain medically recognized. During this long period of unmanaged, unending pain, Idgie resorted to self medicating in attempts to maintain their ability to live their life… To plan my bridal shower, and go camping, and go to school to be a dental assistant. This sourceless pain, and Idgies attempt to manage it, led them down a path of addiction and trauma. Idgie and the family rallied and Idgie was able to quiet the addiction and find a new normal. 

Eventually they got a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. This is a disorder characterised by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain. It is accompanied by fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and memory issues. The severity of pain is impacted by smells, weather, food additives, energy expenditure and some days, by nothing at all. It presents as the feeling of bone deep bruising, or the sensation of burning skin. 

This pain condition has no treatment, except long term pain management. Although eventually given a referral for the pain clinic, the wait list is long. This has only been exacerbated by the onset of the covid-19 pandemic. 

Over the last two years ( while waiting on that referral) I have watched Idgie's pain go from bad, to worse, to beyond imaginable as they have put their all into showing up for their nephews, for their friends, and for their community. This unsustainable, improperly managed pain has led again into active addiction. 

The path to addiction recovery is complex and different for each person. I have looked at a lot of different programs and I am really excited about this opportunity. The residential 3 month detox and treatment that is offered is not only the opportunity to break the chemical dependency, but will provide the tools and the healing Idgie needs in order to truly begin recovery. The program will be individualised to Idgie’s needs in order to meet their unique needs for sustainable recovery. They will have access to a pain specialist to work with throughout the program and will have access to ongoing support through the centre for an additional year after the in house. In addition to the incredible medical and therapeutic support, the heart of this program is one that reflects Idgie’s spirit and sense of community. 

The cost of such an incredible program is 25,000 dollars. This is a huge and inaccessible cost for Idgie and our family, but I know that together we can get Idgie there, and healing. Every penny that is raised will go towards this treatment, and the administrative costs that accompany getting them there.

I am confident that this program will give Idgie the support and the tools they need to achieve sustainable recovery and build a good quality of life. A life where they can play with their nephews again, exploring the creeks and scrambling through tidal pools. A life where they don’t have to dread the pain and gnawing hunger waking up will bring.