Help Nick Chesterfield beat sepsis for good: 2019

UPDATE: THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN MOVED TO A NEW PAGE AT https://www.gofundme.com/help-nick-chesterfield-beat-sepsis-for-good-2019 

PLEASE MAKE YOUR KIND DONATIONS THERE.


Hello friends,
My name is Nick Chesterfield. I am human rights journalist, a witness journalism
safety trainer and digital journalism developer, and due to my frontline work in
remote communities under repression across Melanesia and the world, I have
suffered significant long term health impacts, which are not supported much by
public health insurance..

After a long and difficult health journey, I am asking for your help again to raise money for:
* my significant, ongoing and complex medical costs stemming from my 28 times of
  near-fatal sepsis/cellulitis recurrence caused by lymphoedema;
* support my continued recovery from organ and metabolic damage caused by
  exposure to multiple tropical diseases including cerebral malaria, arboviruses,
  blackwater fever and typhus contracted during refugee, environmental and human    protection   operations;
*  to help pay for two upcoming surgeries not covered by Medicare:
     -  potential Lymphatic Venous Anastomasis Surgery ($!6,000) – this may be
        reduced if I can get effective lymphoedema management and weight loss;    
     - Reconstructive surgery to prevent skin tears and cellulitis following massive
       weight loss ($30,000);
*  support my journey to pay for disability friendly rehabilitation and recovery gym
   access and fitness equipment, as well as vital lifesaving compression garments for       my lymphatics.
*  get some upper body, upper leg, trunk and arm compression garments as my skin
   is loosening rapidly and dramatically, causing lymphoedema migration; ($1000)
*  purchase of a Sequential Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (SIPC) Pump, the
    LX9 for my lymphoedema management. https://www.medirent.com.au/products/compression-pumps/lx-9/ . Cost for $1750
*  Replacement of a rapidly failing CPAP machine into a portable energy efficient
   version ($2000);
* airfare support to travel to see my surgeons in Adelaide whilst living in Brisbane;
*  to help get back on my feet and back into the frontline journalism training and        projects , and fit for the struggle for peace and justice, so that I am battle ready by     later in 2019.

This totals just over $52,000. Thanks to Private Insurance refusing to cover me.

There comes a time in every person’s life where one has to ask for help from their
friends, and those that want to help one to succeed in the work done for others. I am asking your help not just to stay alive, but to be able to get back on my feet, and
support my ongoing health needs, so that I can continue to support those living under serious repression.

These disabilities have been caused by many injuries from 23 years of frontline
human rights, environmental and journalism work across indigenous Melanesia and globally. All these many injuries and disabilities nearly killed me, several times over, and continue to impact heavily on my daily life.

I have recently had lifesaving surgery for urgent weight loss, as my lymphoedema
transformed many common and healthy foods into dangerous protein rich fats, no matter how well my portion control. This lymphoedema has spread to my upper
body with my thoracic duct being surrounded by fibrotic induration, which was
preventing me from emptying lymphatic fluid into my bloodstream. So far, I have
now lost 48kg, over 30% of that being the 70 litres of lymphatic fluid that I has carrying. There is still a lot to go, and while this rapid weight loss is creating its own
problems, I am prepared to do the hard yards. I just need your support to get there.

As I head into 2019, I am really asking again for your help in continuing to pay for my basic, and lifesaving, medical costs, not covered by Medicare, that run to close to
$1200 per month. Not being able to afford this means I am regularly running the
risk of sepsis infection, which will likely kill me quickly if not prevented.

I will also be asking your help to pay for quality of life, medically necessary
reconstructive surgery, for which I have been quoted $30,000 up front (complex
thoracic, abdominal, leg and arm surgery).

Sadly due to my lymphoedema, private health insurance companies have REFUSED cover since I was 23, and these surgeries are not available in the public system without a ten year waiting period, which is outrageous.

Previous money raised so far has been put to very good use, with hire of medical
equipment (which now needs to be purchased), compression gear, physio, stocking  up on medications, gap costs for consulting surgeons, specialists, and allied health    professionals in my treatment, and a short burst of very intensive clearance work
for my lymphatic drainage needed after my last episode of Sepsis ( which included     laser treatment on my lymph nodes). In that, I successfully cleared almost 25 litres of fluid. However, sadly, until I can get lymphatic surgery, this is something that just keeps coming back, and I am subject to waiting lists for the two surgeries required.

This was an incredibly useful amount of padding to ensure that I didn't have to
spend so much time finding money for my treatment, and could actually spend that
time working on my human rights journalism project work.

Again, I thank those kindly who were able to contribute their ongoing support to
this stupidly expensive health burden which is beyond a volunteer to pay for.

With my last crowdfunding round I was able to get some of my thoracic induration
shifted through lymphatic laser treatment and intensive massage, but I urgently
need to get this restarted, plus I need to also get some more new compression
garments. I am also hoping, with your help, to raise enough cash to start to pay to
lease a Lymphoedema Compression Pump, which can greatly assist in my overnight management.

Whatever you can help with, will be greatly appreciated, and very well used.

Any amount to help me raise this monthly cost will be deeply and greatly appreciated - and again, I simply am asking please for small donations from many - the cost of a cuppa, a beer, or a smashed avo breakfast. Together you can help me beat this.


Why do I need your help?
I am now 43. Over the last 24 years, I have worked tirelessly in journalism, human
rights, building regional peace journalism capacity, media freedom and environmental defence across the world – mainly focusing on indigenous Melanesia and
Australia.
Many of you know me from these frontline struggles and have personally witnessed the pain of major health setbacks and sacrifices I have had to endure whilst
contributing my time willingly for free. I have endured many injuries and health
knockdowns whilst I have been working helping others for the greater struggle for
justice, but now I need some help to continue.


During May 2018, I suffered my 28th episode of Sepsis, which is a direct result of
injuries received in the field. Sepsis of course is when bacteria infiltrates the
bloodstream, causing febrility, hypotension, massive lymphatic fluid buildup, off the scale pain, and if not treated urgently, coma, organ failure, and of course death.  My first episodes created a lymphoedema disability, first in my right lower leg, now
having spread across both legs and beginning to be evident in my trunk and upper
body.

This May 2018, this became my 28th infection. My doctors have made it abundantly clear that I will be dead without intensive management, management that is beyond the ability of public healthcare to provide. These issues have caused a cascade of co-morbidities, including intrusion of lymphatic fluid into joints, significant bladder
infections (which caused a major precancerous mass to form causing subluxation of both my hips and knees, inability to metabolise fluids, and resultant difficulties for
normal exercise, which of course - despite a healthy, balanced diet - create weight
gain. The less exercise can happen due to skeletal and muscular damage, the more it stacks on, even if I don’t eat. I’m sick of it, and I don’t want to get diabetes.

When a person gets lymphoedema, we understand it is for life. 

There is no cure, and stupidly, Medicare STILL does not cover treatment. Despite
over 70% of Australians who survive surgery, cancer and trauma, get lymphoedema, it is considered cosmetic by successive Commonwealth governments. However
Lymphoedema co-morbidities put me at high risk of sepsis infection, due to pooling of bacterially rich lymphatic fluid. A simple scratch, bruise or having my leg swell too much from having it pointing downwards, have all been triggers for full blown
sepsis.

Have you ever experienced a crush injury? Every day, when I take off my expensive
lymphoedema compression stockings, the release of excessive fluid buildup feels
like when a crush injury is released. Except instead of healing this, this is with me
every day for the rest of my life. The only way I can manage to do the work I do, is
with this non-Medicare, non-subsidised support, which includes weekly massage,
laser therapy and physiotherapy.

Existing injuries from frontline work in human rights and journalism, including
physical abuse from security forces around the world, and environmental infections (multiple tropical blood borne parasites, liver damage and inconclusive IBS) have
cause much continued suffering in my life. My disability precludes me from paid
employment due to significant and active discrimination hurdles, so I am trying to
create an independent reality. I am a strong and resilient person, but I want to be
back on my feet.

Helping me now, helps many others.
As I get older, these health issues are cascading, and I am at higher risk of not
surviving my next episodes of sepsis. The last one I nearly died, again. I really have
too much good to contribute to the planet to die now.
I am currently engaged in developing a critical and powerful new project that will
transform frontline human rights defending and witness journalism forever. It is
called Project FiveARM Secure Crisis Journalism Reporting Tool  and establishes a
definitive, scientific information gathering process that shows that if credible facts
can be recorded on the ground exhaustively, at every human security incident, there could be no more denials, no more dark places.
Your help to support my expensive medical costs will enable me to have the health
to complete this critically important tool, without dying for it.
Helping me allows me to help many more.

Thank you so much for your support, it will make a difference – and my work will be stronger for it..

Nick Chesterfield

January 2019