Imagine waking up everyday as a parent wondering if your child will make it to school --knowing that 50% of the time, they are too sick to get out of bed and there’s nothing you can do about it. For our family, that has been our reality for the last 5 years with our 14-yr-old daughter Katelyn.

Finally after months of research, we as parents are confident that we have a found treatment option for our daughter that will help her with a normal life and treat long covid. We plan to leave at the end of March for 4 weeks of treatment. We are not people who normally ask for help, but if you feel moved to support Katelyn’s journey in any way—whether through a donation or simply sharing this page—we would be incredibly grateful.

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Katelyn has been suffering for nearly five years following a COVID infection. She lives with constant migraines, extreme fatigue, post-exertional malaise, nausea, light and sound sensitivity, brain fog, digestive issues, and recurring sore throats. These physical symptoms are compounded by anxiety, depression, and the heartbreak of missing out on so much of her adolescence. These symptoms are recurring everyday.

Before COVID, Katelyn was a bubbly, fun-loving girl who loved figure skating, swimming, dancing and skiing. She enjoyed sleepovers with friends and spending summers at the cabin swimming and laughing with family.

Over the past 5 years, Katelyn has missed half of every school year. On rare days she can manage a full day of school, but most often she can only attend for a few hours before exhaustion sets in. Even the effort of leaving the house for school or activities can trigger worsening symptoms that leave her in bed for days afterward.

Katelyn now has to carefully plan how she uses her energy each day and what tasks might be most important. The vast majority of her time is spent in bed so that she can try and sleep off a migraine or get rid of the nausea so she can try to attend school.

Weekends are no longer for fun with friends—they are spent recovering in hopes she can make it through the following week. She is missing out on some of the most important development years of friendships, school activities, summer camps, and even family gatherings.

Over the past 5 years we have sought help from nurse practitioners, family doctors, neurologists, gastroenterologists, rheumatologists, gynecologists, acupuncturists and more. Again and again we hear that her lab results look “normal,” and that the best option is to try to manage or mask the symptoms. We have tried endless supplements, IV therapies, injections, therapy and specialized diets to help support her body and relieve symptoms.

Through naturopathic care this past summer, we were able to send specialized bloodwork to Germany that tests for underlying post-viral conditions. The results showed strong indicators of persistent COVID-related illness.

Canada does not have these treatments available and out of country medical care is not covered by insurance. The costs include travel to India for Katelyn and a parent, medical treatment at the clinic, as well as medication and support recommended by the clinic to support her recovery post-treatment. Any funds in excess of our goal would be redistributed to other families seeking long-covid care for their children.

We are grateful for your time and support in any way possible to generate awareness of this illness and give Katelyn her life back.

Candace & Kevin Haiko