Teagan is an amazing girl with a passion for dance.

As some of you know, Teagan's hard work paid off when she was accepted into college in Pittsburgh as a dance major in August of 2020. Two months into her freshman year she injured her ankle. For months she worked with an athletic trainer, but it was not healing. She was initially misdiagnosed.

After months of waiting to see a specialist and have an MRI, she found out she had a torn ligament. After her first year in college she returned home needing ligament surgery, which was scheduled for July of 2021.

By November 2021, Teagan began feeling dizzy and fatigued. She started having excessive sleepiness and difficulty concentrating. Over time, her symptoms progressed. She began having gastrointestinal upset, night sweats, headaches, drop in blood pressure followed by high heart rate, and recurrent fainting episodes. After seeing multiple specialists, she was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in July 2022.

POTS, a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, causes a multitude of symptoms including low blood volume and an increase in heart rate upon standing. She started treating her POTS with all the recommended lifestyle changes and medication in hopes of improving her symptoms. However, her condition has continued to decline.

Her symptoms have become debilitating. After months of testing and appointments with multiple providers she was diagnosed with POTS, temporal lobe epilepsy, and non-epileptic seizures. She now uses a wheelchair due to her daily fainting episodes and seizures. Unfortunately, she has been unable to work and had to withdraw from classes on campus. She’s nearly homebound aside from her appointments. She can’t be left alone for too long and requires daily assistance due to the severity of her symptoms.

In January 2023, she started having convulsive episodes and was taken to 3 emergency rooms in less than 2 weeks. She has limited treatment options due to the complexity of her issues. Teagan’s fainting episodes and seizures now occur multiple times a day and have significantly impacted her ability to function. Some blood tests indicate other problems that require appointments with a rheumatologist, immunologist, dietician, and hematologist. She is trying aqua therapy weekly to keep up some strength and mobility.

Despite tireless efforts, finding specialized medical care that can effectively treat Teagan's complex medical condition has proven to be a difficult and heartbreaking journey. The fear and uncertainty of not being able to find the right care is taking a toll on Teagan and her family, but despite it all, Teagan remains hopeful and determined. Her spirit and resilience are an inspiration to all who know her, and it is clear that she is a fighter who will never give up. Her mom and my friend, Michel, is an incredible person who is one of the most selfless, giving people I know.

The financial burden of medical bills, equipment, travel costs, home care, and special food for her dietary needs is causing her family immense stress and worry. They are desperately searching for treatment options to improve her quality of life. Most providers are either out of network or not accepting new patients. Out-of-state treatment may be her best option but will be an out-of-pocket expense. Teagan deserves a chance to receive the care she needs to lead a healthy and fulfilling life, but the financial realities of her situation are making this increasingly difficult. Her family is doing everything in their power to support her, but they cannot do it alone.

We are reaching out to the community for help, in the hopes that people can come together to support Teagan and give her the chance she deserves. Thank you for any help you can provide to Teagan's family.