Support Lauren's Journey to Recovery from Chronic GI Illness

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

I’m reaching out to you today with a heartfelt request on behalf of my very close friend, Lauren, who has been battling severe, life-altering health issues for the past 4 years. After a routine procedure, Lauren developed a post-procedural infection that spiraled into a rare and complex condition. Despite countless visits to doctors and clinics across Canada, her health continued to deteriorate, and for years, Lauren was passed from one healthcare professional to another without a clear diagnosis or solution.

In October 2024, after years of searching for answers and feeling like time was running out, Lauren made the brave decision to seek medical treatment in Mexico. Within just 5 days of arriving, her gastroenterologist, Dr. Francisco Barrientos, chose to explore using a Pill Cam, and she received a diagnosis that she had been waiting for—Calcinosis in the setting of chronic C. diff and potentially Crohn’s disease—a rare and complex combination that has left her antibiotic-resistant and fighting for her life. The doctor in Mexico is collaborating with experts from around the world, trying to find a solution for Lauren’s condition, as options for treatment in North America are extremely limited.

Lauren’s treatment plan includes a new, specialized antibiotic that has never been used in her system before. This life-saving medication must be imported from Germany at a cost of $6,800 CAD, which will help her begin the next phase of her treatment. If the antibiotic proves unsuccessful, Lauren will need a fecal transplant in Mexico City, a procedure that will cost an estimated $5,500 CAD. The transplant could offer her the best chance at restoring balance to her gut microbiome and potentially overcoming her antibiotic resistance. Depending on how her body responds to the treatment, she may also require endoscopies, biopsies, and other medical procedures to fully assess and treat her condition.

Your support can make all the difference. The funds raised will help cover:

Lauren is an incredibly strong and resilient person, but this battle is taking a toll on her emotionally, physically, and financially. Since the beginning of this all, Lauren has been unable to work in the career she loves as a yoga therapist, and is struggling to make ends meet. As her loved ones, we want to give her the best chance at recovery and a return to health. Your generous donation—whether big or small—will directly impact her ability to receive this critical treatment and the care she desperately needs.

Please help us give Lauren the chance to heal, to get the diagnosis she deserves, and to take the next step toward recovery, and ultimately get back to yoga therapy and give back to her community. Any donation or share of this campaign would mean the world to her and her family.

Thank you for your compassion and support.

With love,

Sara and Lauren’s Support Team <3