Live Don't Survive
Donation protected
"Live Don't Survive"; its kind of been my motto for awhile now. Not to be insulting to survivors, but I am tired of it. I want to eat a salad again, go on long walks, return to school and work, and enjoy life without all of my health limitations getting in the way.
I am currently 20 years old and my life has yet again just done a complete 180. My entire life I have been told not to allow my illnesses to control me, but they have and I am ready to take that control back.
In the last ten months a lot has changed and continues to do so. On 2/12/14 I finally got the answer that myself and loved ones have been searching for for over 13 years...a diagnosis. I was told that I have an unspecified type of Vasculitis that has caused damage to small and medium blood vessels in my brain, lungs, sinuses, face, neck, arms, legs, and potentially other areas. My boyfriend and I then moved to Gainesville, FL this May for my infusions/treatment at Shands and I was hopeful. Unfortunately, while my levels have improved, my overall symptoms and quality of life have diminished. Since August I have had to quit my job as an AR Specialist in PT Billing, drop out of college where I maintained a 4.0 GPA (I couldn't physically handle walking to class and due to the brain damage I couldn't keep up anymore), and as of a few weeks ago I lost my home and my boyfriend of four years who could no longer handle the emotional stress and responsibility of having a sick girlfriend...thus I am back at home with the parents.
Aside from the vasculitis and all of the symptoms and damage that come along with it, about three years ago my small intestines decided to almost seize functioning; therefore eating kind of sucks now, is painful, and is limited. For the past seven months I have been receiving infusions of Rituxan and Solu-Medrol; which for those of you who haven't had these, they suck the life out of you for a little while and I have decided that I am done with them.
I have seen how treatment has affected others around me and I refuse to accept it. I refuse to depend on drugs to survive (live). Yesterday on 10/17 I had an eval at The Center For Natural & Integrative Medicine with Dr. Kirti Kalidas and I am extremely excited. It is his goal to get to the root of my health problems and actually HEAL me...no more bandaids (which is what the infusions are).
Here is where my need for finances kicks in. I cannot maintain a job right now full-time or part-time (which kills me! I love working and want to be independent so badly), disability is giving me the run around, and health insurance companies do not cover alternative/holistic treatments.
I hate asking for money, even from family members, but I truly believe that I can be healed without the use of harmful chemicals and all of the unavoidable side effects. I just need a little help!
I don't want anyone to think that their donations will be spent foolishly, it will all be going towards my health expenses; which are extensive. The eval that I had yesterday, as well as a few tests, and supplements totalled $1201 and has left my checking account extremely depleted.
In advance, I am so appreciative and thankful for any contributions and when I am healthy I fully intend to help others as well! The belief that kids don't get sick needs to be destroyed and people of all ages need to continue to be their own health advocates! "Love yourself enough to get healthy"...that's another motto of mine!
I will get healthy, not a bone in my body believes otherwise...I just need a little help:)
I am currently 20 years old and my life has yet again just done a complete 180. My entire life I have been told not to allow my illnesses to control me, but they have and I am ready to take that control back.
In the last ten months a lot has changed and continues to do so. On 2/12/14 I finally got the answer that myself and loved ones have been searching for for over 13 years...a diagnosis. I was told that I have an unspecified type of Vasculitis that has caused damage to small and medium blood vessels in my brain, lungs, sinuses, face, neck, arms, legs, and potentially other areas. My boyfriend and I then moved to Gainesville, FL this May for my infusions/treatment at Shands and I was hopeful. Unfortunately, while my levels have improved, my overall symptoms and quality of life have diminished. Since August I have had to quit my job as an AR Specialist in PT Billing, drop out of college where I maintained a 4.0 GPA (I couldn't physically handle walking to class and due to the brain damage I couldn't keep up anymore), and as of a few weeks ago I lost my home and my boyfriend of four years who could no longer handle the emotional stress and responsibility of having a sick girlfriend...thus I am back at home with the parents.
Aside from the vasculitis and all of the symptoms and damage that come along with it, about three years ago my small intestines decided to almost seize functioning; therefore eating kind of sucks now, is painful, and is limited. For the past seven months I have been receiving infusions of Rituxan and Solu-Medrol; which for those of you who haven't had these, they suck the life out of you for a little while and I have decided that I am done with them.
I have seen how treatment has affected others around me and I refuse to accept it. I refuse to depend on drugs to survive (live). Yesterday on 10/17 I had an eval at The Center For Natural & Integrative Medicine with Dr. Kirti Kalidas and I am extremely excited. It is his goal to get to the root of my health problems and actually HEAL me...no more bandaids (which is what the infusions are).
Here is where my need for finances kicks in. I cannot maintain a job right now full-time or part-time (which kills me! I love working and want to be independent so badly), disability is giving me the run around, and health insurance companies do not cover alternative/holistic treatments.
I hate asking for money, even from family members, but I truly believe that I can be healed without the use of harmful chemicals and all of the unavoidable side effects. I just need a little help!
I don't want anyone to think that their donations will be spent foolishly, it will all be going towards my health expenses; which are extensive. The eval that I had yesterday, as well as a few tests, and supplements totalled $1201 and has left my checking account extremely depleted.
In advance, I am so appreciative and thankful for any contributions and when I am healthy I fully intend to help others as well! The belief that kids don't get sick needs to be destroyed and people of all ages need to continue to be their own health advocates! "Love yourself enough to get healthy"...that's another motto of mine!
I will get healthy, not a bone in my body believes otherwise...I just need a little help:)
Organizer
Danielle Barrett
Organizer
Dallas, FL
