Katie's Journey
Donation protected
November 2019
Update.
Katie had been doing surprisingly well since she left hospital having survived sepsis last month. The new location was key - a new, clean site saw her walking within days - something she was unable to do at the hospital despite daily physio. Her immune system stopped reacting to whatever was bothering her at the last campsite and things were looking up at last.
Unfortunately, we’ve been having to dip into the fund for clothes and food. That was never the intention for the fundraising money, but due to a lack of support we were left with no option and there’s very little left. Before she went into hospital with sepsis, Katie had no clean bedsheets to change into which is partly why the port got infected.
Due to bad weather over the last few days, her few clothes have been on the washing line unable to dry (there’s no tumble dryer) and she’s been unable to change as frequently as she should to keep the port clean.
I’m therefore gutted to have to tell you all that she was rushed back to hospital with a high temperature and sepsis again confirmed. The consultant told her it’s not something a person often survives twice, but they are trying hard to get on top of it.
It is beyond comprehension to me that anyone can be left in this situation, relying on the kindness of strangers to feed and clothe themselves - but that’s the reality of a long term, chronic illness. People close to you drift away, or assume you’ll be ok because you’ve survived this long.
The consultant also told Katie that another port insertion is not an option. Finding a way for her to receive fluids is becoming impossible. Whilst in the hospital and has a line in her groin, but all of her central veins have collapsed due to ongoing malnutrition.
Please please keep everything crossed for her. All funds raised are being redirected to medical bills, and to clothing and bedding for when she hopefully leaves the hospital.
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Katie was diagnosed with ME as a teenager, suffering an illness which caused her to push asides her hopes for the future, leaving her housebound and seemingly fighting a 'never ending flu.' She has tried every remedy and treatment programme available, with no improvement, yet never giving up hope of beating her illness and getting on with her life.
In 2013, things took a sudden and dramatic change for the worse, when Katie became unable to eat solid foods. Within 6 months the change in her was quite shocking, as she dropped to just over 6 stone and was surviving on tiny amounts of protein milkshake and baby food.
Too weak to stand, Katie was relying on 24/7 care provided by friends and family, who helped her to wash, use bedpans and eat tiny amounts of her liquid diet.
Her sensitivity to light, sound and touch meant that she spent almost all of her time alone in a darkened room, and nobody could offer any comfort.
There is absolutely no doubt that Katie was weeks from death when, in early 2014, we became aware of a number of people in the US who described what she was suffering word-for-word. Symptoms most other ME sufferers hadn't mentioned, including the inability to digest food, intense sinus pain and an overwhelming feeling of being poisoned were all described. And these people were recovering by relocating to a pristine environment... to avoid mould and chemicals.
Despite being too ill to travel, despite knowing the exertion may kill her, Katie agreed to move in search of cleaner air. A private ambulance arrived to relocate her as gently as possible, and so the Avoidance Journey began. Within days, Katie's health very gradually began to return, most notably with her ability to eat again.
This isn't a huge charity raking in thousands a day. And it's only one person's life. But the story that results will either be tragic or incredible, and if incredible, it could help so many others in years to come.
If you're in a position to help - absolutely any donation would be hugely appreciated - please do. Even if you are not in a position to make a financial contribution, I urge you to share this story with your friends.
Why Katie chose this approach
http://paradigmchange.me/
Follow Katie on Facebook
(Please be patient - Katie is not well enough to update on a regular basis)
Thank you for reading and for your continued support.
Update.
Katie had been doing surprisingly well since she left hospital having survived sepsis last month. The new location was key - a new, clean site saw her walking within days - something she was unable to do at the hospital despite daily physio. Her immune system stopped reacting to whatever was bothering her at the last campsite and things were looking up at last.
Unfortunately, we’ve been having to dip into the fund for clothes and food. That was never the intention for the fundraising money, but due to a lack of support we were left with no option and there’s very little left. Before she went into hospital with sepsis, Katie had no clean bedsheets to change into which is partly why the port got infected.
Due to bad weather over the last few days, her few clothes have been on the washing line unable to dry (there’s no tumble dryer) and she’s been unable to change as frequently as she should to keep the port clean.
I’m therefore gutted to have to tell you all that she was rushed back to hospital with a high temperature and sepsis again confirmed. The consultant told her it’s not something a person often survives twice, but they are trying hard to get on top of it.
It is beyond comprehension to me that anyone can be left in this situation, relying on the kindness of strangers to feed and clothe themselves - but that’s the reality of a long term, chronic illness. People close to you drift away, or assume you’ll be ok because you’ve survived this long.
The consultant also told Katie that another port insertion is not an option. Finding a way for her to receive fluids is becoming impossible. Whilst in the hospital and has a line in her groin, but all of her central veins have collapsed due to ongoing malnutrition.
Please please keep everything crossed for her. All funds raised are being redirected to medical bills, and to clothing and bedding for when she hopefully leaves the hospital.
---------
Katie was diagnosed with ME as a teenager, suffering an illness which caused her to push asides her hopes for the future, leaving her housebound and seemingly fighting a 'never ending flu.' She has tried every remedy and treatment programme available, with no improvement, yet never giving up hope of beating her illness and getting on with her life.
In 2013, things took a sudden and dramatic change for the worse, when Katie became unable to eat solid foods. Within 6 months the change in her was quite shocking, as she dropped to just over 6 stone and was surviving on tiny amounts of protein milkshake and baby food.
Too weak to stand, Katie was relying on 24/7 care provided by friends and family, who helped her to wash, use bedpans and eat tiny amounts of her liquid diet.
Her sensitivity to light, sound and touch meant that she spent almost all of her time alone in a darkened room, and nobody could offer any comfort.
There is absolutely no doubt that Katie was weeks from death when, in early 2014, we became aware of a number of people in the US who described what she was suffering word-for-word. Symptoms most other ME sufferers hadn't mentioned, including the inability to digest food, intense sinus pain and an overwhelming feeling of being poisoned were all described. And these people were recovering by relocating to a pristine environment... to avoid mould and chemicals.
Despite being too ill to travel, despite knowing the exertion may kill her, Katie agreed to move in search of cleaner air. A private ambulance arrived to relocate her as gently as possible, and so the Avoidance Journey began. Within days, Katie's health very gradually began to return, most notably with her ability to eat again.
This isn't a huge charity raking in thousands a day. And it's only one person's life. But the story that results will either be tragic or incredible, and if incredible, it could help so many others in years to come.
If you're in a position to help - absolutely any donation would be hugely appreciated - please do. Even if you are not in a position to make a financial contribution, I urge you to share this story with your friends.
Why Katie chose this approach
http://paradigmchange.me/
Follow Katie on Facebook
(Please be patient - Katie is not well enough to update on a regular basis)
Thank you for reading and for your continued support.
Organizer
Becca Hans
Organizer
