Alissa's Medical Treatment

I am writing this on behalf of my younger sister who has been battling an extremely rare, life-threatening autoimmune condition for nearly two years.  We almost lost her several times during this two-year period from the various ways that the disease has attacked her body, including three massive pulmonary embolisms.  Unfortunately, the doctors have yet to find the cause of her illness and the disease continues to attack her nervous and cardiovascular systems.   She has already undergone numerous medications in hopes that they would prevent further deterioration, including steroid treatment, IVIG and chemotherapy, but to the deep disappointment of our family and her doctors, all of the treatments have failed. In fact, some of the medications have actually exacerbated her condition and accelerated certain symptoms.

In an effort to prevent further deterioration, doctors are recommending a new type of immunotherapy, which will take place over the course of the next six months. Sadly, insurance is refusing to pay for the treatment and insists that she continue on with the chemotherapy drugs, despite explicit warnings from health professionals. Given the urgency of the situation, her doctors kindly offered to waive their regular fees, but even with such concessions, the cost of treatment is nearly $200K.

Her husband and my parents have done everything they could to help with medical bills not covered by insurance, caregiver costs, trips to medical institutions, lodging, and ambulance transfers (which insurance does not cover), paying well over $150K since my sister first came down with this illness. Unfortunately, they have depleted practically all of their savings and do not have enough to cover the exorbitant expenses associated with further treatment.  

It is so difficult for me to see her hooked up to an oxygen tank and unable to swallow food when just two years ago, she was a happy, kind, independent young woman working towards a graduate degree in healthcare. Always concerned with helping others and serving her community, my sister spent countless hours volunteering for various animal and human rights organizations, while taking a full course load in school and working on the side. I am desperately hoping that we will be able to raise enough money to cover this new treatment so that she can finally recover and regain some semblance of a normal life. 

My family and I are infinitely grateful for any and all contributions and cannot express how blessed we are to have such wonderful and caring friends. Thank you all for your tremendous support!  #GoBeyondGiving