Hi, my name is Pat Kornic and I run a support group on Facebook for sufferers of Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency.

Vitamin B12 deficiency — and its autoimmune form, Pernicious Anaemia — is an insidious condition that develops slowly and often goes unnoticed until the symptoms become severe. Many people initially experience only overwhelming fatigue: the kind where you go to bed exhausted and wake up just as tired.

By the time symptoms like pins and needles, numbness in the hands and feet, or balance problems appear, the deficiency may already have progressed to neurological damage. This damage can affect mobility, memory, concentration, and the ability to carry out everyday tasks. It can impact employment, social life, and family life.

The treatment itself is simple: vitamin B12 injections. Unfortunately, accessing appropriate treatment is not always easy. Many patients struggle to obtain the frequency of injections needed to recover from neurological damage, leaving them searching for support and guidance.

This is why patient support groups exist.

I run a Facebook support group for people living with B12 deficiency and Pernicious Anaemia. Many members have found improvement by purchasing B12 supplies from regulated online pharmacies and administering their own injections when they cannot access adequate treatment through their doctors.

Since 2022, I have personally been helping five members of my group who cannot afford these essential supplies due to financial hardship. I have been covering the cost using funds from my own consultation work because no one should have to choose between putting food on the table and accessing medication that allows them to live a functional life.

I do not run fundraisers in my group now, as I try to protect the privacy and dignity of the members who need this extra help. However, I have recently been asked to help another member, and I do not want to turn her away.

She is a single mother who is struggling to care for her child while dealing with the neurological effects of B12 deficiency. She has sought assistance through social services, but like many people with Pernicious Anaemia or B12 malabsorption, she faces a common barrier: once treatment begins, patients are often placed on minimal “maintenance” injections, even when more frequent treatment is needed to repair neurological damage.

I would like to help her access the B12 supplies she needs and also maintain a small reserve so I can continue helping the five members I already support.

If you are able to contribute, even a small amount, it would make a meaningful difference. Your support will go directly toward essential B12 supplies for individuals who otherwise could not afford them. Every dollar raised will go toward ensuring that these individuals can continue their treatment and maintain a better quality of life.

If you are able to help, even a small contribution can provide essential B12 treatment and help someone regain their health, mobility, and independence.