Help Sunny get access to essential health care

Hi everyone,

My name is Phoebe Campbell, and I’m reaching out on behalf of my dear friend, Sunny Day. This isn’t something Sunny would usually do—they’re not one to ask for help, even when they need it most. But I know how much they’re going through, and I’m hoping to rally some support to help them during this tough time.

Sunny has faced health challenges for as long as I’ve known them. They live with a physical disability that brings constant pain and instability into their life. Since November last year, the pain has been relentless, making it hard for them to do many of the things they love.

In April of this year, Sunny started experiencing severe stomach pain. For two months, they could barely eat and had to rely on hospital-grade formula to get by. Things got so bad in May that they had to ask their housemates to call an ambulance. After spending the night in emergency care and undergoing a month of tests, doctors discovered that Sunny had a bacterial stomach infection.

This infection is usually treated with three antibiotics, but due to other health issues, Sunny could only take two. While they started to feel better at first, things quickly got worse again, and they couldn’t even digest the formula anymore.

Sunny had to pay out of pocket to see a gastroenterologist because the public health system couldn’t get them in fast enough, and the doctor said it was urgent. That’s when they received some scary news: there’s a possibility that the infection has caused a stomach ulcer, which might be cancerous.

To confirm this, Sunny needs a procedure (either or both a gastroscopy or colonoscopy), but to do that, they’d have to stop their medications for four weeks. This is a risky move because if the ulcer isn’t cancerous, being off the meds could cause it to become cancerous. So, Sunny is taking things week by week, hoping that it’s just the infection that needs treatment.

On top of all this, Sunny’s situation with the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) has been incredibly difficult. NDIS doesn’t cover the assessment, diagnosis, or treatment of health conditions, nor does it cover medications or hospital care. Unfortunately, you can’t use NDIS funding to pay for doctor visits or to see medical specialists.

To make matters worse, the recent $14.4 billion cuts to the NDIS have already started impacting Sunny, even before the legislation has passed. Previously, NDIS allowed people to apply for more funding if they ran out due to a change in circumstances. Because Sunny has been so unwell and was homeless for a month—staying with a friend in Newcastle—they used up all their funding. Sunny applied for a change of circumstances on July 16th, but despite NDIS policy stating they must respond within 21 days, they’ve still heard nothing.

For the past month, Sunny hasn’t had the funding to pay for essential health services that should be covered by NDIS. As a result, they’ve had to stop seeing most of their health professionals because they simply can’t afford it. The one non-negotiable expense is physiotherapy, which is crucial for their condition but costs $440 out of pocket each week—an amount that takes up two-thirds of their weekly income.

Sunny has been given mixed responses about how long the NDIS will take to get back to them. Just this past Friday, they were told it should be a matter of days, but they don’t have much hope left.

Despite all these challenges, Sunny is doing everything they can to cover their mounting medical expenses—they’re even selling their car and have made significant lifestyle changes. They’re currently living on a disability support pension, and since October, they’ve spent around $10,000 to $15,000 on medical costs. The only way they’ve managed to keep going is by using savings from a compensation payment they received as a victim of violence.

Sunny doesn’t have any family to turn to, and while they receive some assistance through NDIS, it doesn’t cover medical or hospital expenses. They’ve kept much of this to themselves, and I know they feel bad if this is the first time you’re hearing about it.

If you wish to send a personal message to Sunny, please be mindful that you may not receive a response right away or at all. Sunny is very overwhelmed, but your words of love and encouragement will still be deeply felt and appreciated.

If you see Sunny in the community, please don’t bring up their health or talk about it unless they directly bring it up with you. They have a lot of medical trauma, and being out in the community is often the one break they get from constant health problems.

Sunny is one of the most resilient and caring people I know, and they deserve all the help and kindness we can offer. If you’re able to contribute, whether it’s through a donation or by sharing this page, it would mean so much to both of us. Let’s come together and support Sunny through this challenging time.

Thank you for taking the time to read Sunny’s story and for any support you can provide.

With gratitude,

Phoebe