My name is Bobbie, and my sister Krista is the coolest kid I know. She loves to jump around, talk about her adventures at school with all of her best friends, and she is one heck of a gymnast. Almost 7 years ago, when Krista was 2 years old, she was diagnosed with Scleroderma, a rare chronic connective tissue disease that attacked the collagen in Krista's leg and her joints. She underwent transfusions at Rady Childen's Hospital in San Diego, and was on methotrexate for a few years. For about 4 years, we have had no further problems regarding the scleroderma, minus Krista's weakened immune system, making her catch colds more often than most kids.
     On February 3, 2017, I was woken up around 12:15 am by my mother screaming for me to call 911. Krista had woken up and vomited blood, then passed out as she was attempting to brush her teeth. With paramedics on the way,  she said she wasn't feeling good, and once again vomited blood. She took an ambulance ride to the Emergency Room at Riverside University Regional Medical Center. Here, doctors told us that this episode may mean GERD, a digestive disease in which stomach acid or bile irritates the food pipe lining, or possible cancer of the stomach or esophagus. Since February 3, my family has been trying endlessly to get refferals to specialists in Gastroenternology, and other fields to get us some answers. In the midst of this, we have come to find out that Krista's recent problems may have been caused by the scleroderma "coming back", but this time, eating away at her esophagus and internal organs. Still trying to get referrals, we ran into the problem that Covered California, despite the name, doesn't cover much, including the many expensive tests necessary to diagnosing and treating Krista.
     My father is a long haul truck driver, and being so far away from the family at a time like this is, understandably, a very scary thing. My dad was attempting to find a job that would allow him to be closer to home, when his company cancelled his contract. He is now facing two weeks with no pay, and bills are adding up quickly.
     My family is in a tough spot right now, and it isn't easy seeing them struggle. It isn't easy hearing Krista ask, "Why can't they just help me?" It isn't easy knowing the stress that my parents are facing, but still seeing them do their best to stay optimistic. It wasn't easy writing this, but if it allows anyone to see our struggles and open their hearts, then it was all worth it.