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Please help Juliette medical fund

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Juliette



Juliette was like most vibrant, funny, active 14 year old girls. She loves to sing, draw, play her guitar, hang out with friends. She ran track and sang in choir. She was looking forward to growing up, getting her first job, drivers permit and finishing high school. Over the last year and a half all of her joy and youth has been stripped away and she may never grow up. She is fighting for her life and losing hope if she does not get the help she needs to see the doctors who could save her.

Juliette has Kaiser health insurance so she does not have the option of seeking second opinions without very large consultation fees. Over the last year and a half Kaiser has missed many opportunities to catch red flags in Juliette's health.

It started over a year ago. Juliette began to complain of joint pain. Juliette's mother Jan immediately took her to the doctor. Months of pain went by with doctors advising Jan that Juliette was lazy or perhaps it was typical growing pains. Several months later and with a lot of pleading to the doctors from Jan to do more testing, Juliette was diagnosed with Mixed Connective Tissue disease with Polyarticular Idiopathic Arthritis.Interestingly, the cysts that were throughout her joints showed up in exrays dating back several years.
By this time Juliette was in incredible pain from constant swelling. From this point things have progressed quickly. Juliette began losing her voice. Her young voice became hoarse and she had trouble breathing. Doctors found a tumor on her vocal chord. Juliette could no longer sing, one of her most cherished joys. She began many treatments but the swelling continued leaving Juliette wheelchair bound. The swelling caused her arms to become rigid, she could no longer extend them. Nor could she write or draw, play guitar, bathe or feed herself. Tumors had grown throughout all her joints affecting her neck, shoulders, arms, hips, knees, jaw and hands and feet. Juliette has tendons spontaneously snap causing excruciating pain. At this point many treatments have been tried with little to no success. She is in unbearable pain. A large tumor has grown on the bottom of her foot. It is very large and can not be biopsied without removing the entire foot pad. So, the possibility of cancer exists but can't be determined.
The most recent development in Juliette's fight is the appearance of nodes and scarring on her lungs. She has been diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease. This causes issues with the esophagus, Esophageal Hypo Motility caused by the MCTD. There is no cure and progression is eminent. Kaiser has suggested treatment that will possibly keep the disease at bay but has offered no hope otherwise.

What Juliette and her mother Jan are hoping for is the opportunity to get second opinions. After calling several children's hospitals including St. Jude's and Shriners they were told there weren't any specialists capable of helping Juliette at these hospitals. There are only a handful of specialists in the country who could possibly help but their consultation fees are thousands of dollars not to mention travel expenses.

We are hoping through Gofundme Juliette will have that opportunity. Jan has devoted her time to caring for Juliette. The cost is insurmountable on their own. If you can donate any amount, it is greatly appreciated. If you are unable to, please consider sharing sharing Juliette's plea for help.
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Donations 

  • Jeff Campbell
    • $60 
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Barbara Redman
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Jan Lander
Beneficiary

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