2025 started out normal for Carissa, a vibrant 16 year old teenager. Working full time, learning to drive, hanging out, and having sleepovers with her cousin and enjoying life but by the end of January, beginning of February, things started to change. She started having issues with her bowels, firstly with constipation, then with diarrhoea. She also suffered with severe mouth ulcers. At first, she didn't think anything of it, but the following months would tell a different story.

Over the last six months, Carissa has been admitted to hospital 4 times. Her longest stay was almost 3 weeks.

She has had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, iron infusions, albumin infusions, xrays, ultra sounds, an mri and mre. Blood tests, stool pans and steroid infusions. And this last stint she's been hooked up to a fluid IV for the past few days.

This beautiful 16 (almost 17) year old was working a full time job, saving and making a life for herself , but has been so sickly she has been unable to work for months. She's unable to absorb nutrients or eat without inducing extreme pain and deficating blood and recently was bedridden. She has been continually losing weight.Her body was cold all the time no matter how warm a room or what clothes she was wearing.

The hospital told them it was acute ulcerative colitis.But she keeps on being sick after a few weeks of treatment.

Between gp and specialist appointments, medication, and the general cost of living, Carissa's parents are struggling at times to make ends meet. Especially when Carissa is in hospital, her Mum has had to cancel her shifts to be with her, leaving their family losing vital money to pay household bills and Inducing more stress on this family.Please give as little or as much as you can to help lift their burden.