Kristine High's Medical Expenses

My life changed on 8/30/2015 when I woke up paralyzed from my lower lungs down and was rushed to the ICU.   It took until December and repeated hospital admissions to receive a diagnosis of Grave's Autoimmune Encephalitis.  

The disease is a rare autoimmune disease and a complication of Grave's disease which I was diagnosed with when I was 26.  I chose to have my Thyroid removed and take replacement hormones.  

Unfortunately autoimmune diseases can never be cured, only managed.  In my particular case, the antibodies that I carry in my bone marrow turned back on and launched an attack against my brain.  It has had devastating results on my body and as I write this, we have still been unable to find a treatment protocol to control it.   

I do not know what my long term prognosis will be. I am currently utilizing high dose steroids, Cellcept and IVIG transfusions to try to gain control of the disease but it is a slow process which has so far not improved anything.  

Between hospital stays and after utilizing all of my FMLA, I continued to try to work on a part time basis.  Unfortunately, after a recent hospital stay at the beginning of January, I was contacted by my company and told that I was terminated because I was a liability. Furthermore, my health insurance was canceled.  

Part of the lesson of this journey has been to learn that I need to ask for and accept help from others.    The prescription costs are very high as is the cost of COBRA.  It's an expensive disease.  The last round of 5 IVIG infusions alone cost $90,000.  I have started the process of applying for disability but it unfortunately not be a quick process.  Your help will help me cover the cost in the meantime.   

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.   I deeply appreciate any donations that are made.  

Kristine