When Piper was 5, her mother realized that they were asking her to do things she was not capable of doing and that were beyond her control. Her brain simply wouldn’t allow her to do them. Now at age 18, Piper is still faced everyday with a battle against her brain and now a battle against her life. Piper is currently battling ARFID. ARFID stands for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. ARFID differs from other eating disorders as it has nothing to do with body image. The meaning of “fear of food” in patients with ARFID differs from anorexia nervosa and bulimia. For individuals with ARFID, the fear may stem from knowing they must eat, when they have no interest in eating; fearing the temperature may not be what they like, fear of choking or becoming sick or fear of eating a new food. 


It has been absolutely devastating and heartbreaking for this family to watch their child go from a healthy young lady to being told she will not survive another 3 months.


Piper and her family have struggled her entire life with uncontrollable behaviors, tics, meltdowns and more. Finally at age 10 she was diagnosed with ASD Level 1. Being that they were an active duty military family, they did not have family around to support them during these times, and faced the struggles and battles as best they could. Piper has had multiple diagnoses since then, ASD level 1, OCD, ARFID, anxiety and ADHD. She also has a sensory processing disorder. Transition has always been the biggest trigger for Piper.


Over the years her family has done multiple therapies for Piper which has helped a lot. She is in need of therapy again. Piper now needs therapy for ARFID. Since this is such a unique and new diagnosis, the family has struggled to find a care team that understands the disorder and are willing to treat it with confidence in progress or recovery. Piper also needs Exposure and Response Prevention therapy for her OCD which is making the ARFID worse. 


Someone struggling with ARFID may have difficulty chewing or swallowing and can even gag or choke in response to eating, due to high levels of anxiety. In addition, foods may be avoided based on physical characteristics such as texture, smell, appearance or based on past negative experiences like choking or vomiting. 


In order for Piper to get the treatment she so desperately needs to stay alive and at a facility that understands her condition, Piper’s family needs at least $90,000 due to the fact her insurance will not cover the cost. If she were residential, her family’s insurance would cover it with copays. Here’s the kicker though - EVEN if she did residential, she would have to transfer to PHP and IOP and it will still cost them $90,000. This amount does not include the gas to and from the facility every day, medications or the doctor and facility bills. Piper’s mother works as a PRN and picks up shifts when people need off. Due to Piper’s therapies needed, she would not be able to take shifts which causes more of a financial burden. The $90,000 is strictly for 16 weeks. At this point, once a week therapy is not going to keep Piper alive. She needs Partial Hospitalization followed by an Intensive Outpatient Program. 


Piper’s little body is EXHAUSTED and so is her family. After serving over 20 years in the military, her family is now battling to save their daughter. Her father, who is a Purple Heart recipient and her mother, who has spent the last 20 years serving their family, are being faced with the hardest decisions of their lives.


The $90,000 will be covering the following:


The PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) is $1125 a day. Piper will need this service for 6 days a week over a course of 8 weeks. The IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) is $750 a day and Piper will need this service for another 8 weeks. Piper’s life depends on both of these services. Without being able to access these services, Piper may not be able to recover. She was given 3 months with the state she is currently in. Your donations will be going to save the life of one of the sweetest and most intelligent young girls you would ever come to know.


We will be sharing her journey with all of you as Piper and her family for her life. Please consider making a donation. Piper and her family deserve to see her live a full and healthy life. They are extremely grateful, thankful, appreciative, happy and blessed with any amount you might consider helping with. You can help be a part of saving Piper’s life!