Scarleth Needs Your Help for Vital Treatment

My name is Scarleth, and I have a beautiful daughter I want to fight to live for. I turned 34 while fighting for my life. I have Wegener’s Vasculitis. I ask you, please read and help spread awareness.

Vasculitis is often called the “5 Doctor” disease because it takes seeing multiple specialists before receiving a proper diagnosis. It is an illness that can go undetected for years, yet a simple test could identify it if caught in time, but I wasn’t that lucky, unfortunately.

Almost a year ago, I was diagnosed with Wegener’s Vasculitis, but my health struggles have gone back much further. For over ten years, I battled anemia, joint pain, chronic fatigue, and a weakened immune system that left me constantly prone to infections. In the past two years alone, I have been hospitalized 16 times due to infections and severe kidney damage (Currently, I’ve been diagnosed with AKI lesion II). Each time, doctors searched for answers but found none. I was prescribed medications for various symptoms, yet nothing seemed to stop the downward spiral of my health.

By early May 2024, my condition had worsened to the point that I could no longer function normally. My energy levels were depleted, and simple daily tasks became insurmountable challenges. I was experiencing extreme night sweats, unrelenting pain in my joints and muscles, and fevers that would spike without warning. My weight began to drop, and I lost my appetite. Something as little as walking my dogs required rest breaks. Something was very wrong.

Then came the moment that changed everything. One night, my body gave out. I couldn’t eat, sit up, or even speak. I was rushed to the hospital with an extremely high fever, severe dehydration, and acute kidney failure. It was then that doctors finally started piecing things together. After countless tests, biopsies, and examinations, I was admitted for an extended stay in the hospital. I was placed in isolation as they struggled to determine whether I had an aggressive infection, an autoimmune disorder, or even tuberculosis. During this time, I suffered a suspected deep vein thrombosis which resulted in a blood clot in my internal jugular vein and, shortly after, a respiratory infection. My condition was rapidly deteriorating, and no one could explain why. It was in this dire moment that doctors finally made the connection and ran an ANCA test which came back positive—Vasculitis. My body’s immune system was attacking my blood vessels, cutting off circulation and causing life-threatening damage to my organs.

Thanks to the incredible medical team overseeing my care, I was immediately placed on an aggressive treatment plan, including chemotherapy drugs to suppress my immune system and halt the disease's progression. However, the road to recovery has been grueling. My body had deteriorated so much that I was physically incapacitated by my medical team and every movement was painful. My vision has worsened, my hearing has been affected, and I still struggle with chronic pain and fatigue. My kidneys have started failing, my lungs are compromised, and additional treatments are needed to stabilize my body. Despite all of this, I remain determined to keep fighting.

Now, I am facing yet another battle. Vasculitis is unpredictable, and recent tests show that the disease course has gone so far that keeping it at bay feels more uncertain than ever. The cost of maintaining my health has skyrocketed, far beyond what I could ever afford. My medical treatments and ongoing care are not covered by my insurance, and the financial burden is overwhelming. I never imagined I would have to fight this hard just to stay alive.

But there’s someone who makes all of this worthwhile—my baby girl, Nicole. She is only 11 years old, yet she has shown strength and resilience beyond her years. Watching her navigate this emotional and psychological toll has been heartbreaking. No child should have to see their mother endure this kind of suffering. And yet, despite everything, she surrounds me with love, courage, and hope. She is my reason to keep going, my light in the darkest times.

I am asking for your support—not just for me, but for her. I want to be the mother she needs, to see her grow up, to be there for every milestone. But I cannot do this alone. Medical care, treatments, and basic survival are beyond my financial reach. Any donation, big or small, will help me continue this fight and give my daughter the mother she deserves.

Please, if you can, show compassion and help in any way possible. Every act of kindness, every share of this story, and every contribution makes a difference.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you can offer.

With gratitude,

Scarleth