Addisons Disease

Hello, my name is Kaitlyn Swars, and this fundraiser is for my fiancé, Juniper Doyle.

I met Juniper between late 2016, 2017. We both have interests in the Animation and Art. From there, a friendship blossomed between us and we became close friends, then eventually we became girlfriends. August 24th of 2021, I proposed to her, and she said yes.

this established relationship between us has always been online and long distance. I didn’t start visiting her and her family until late 2018 or mid 2019 (I’m foggy with dates bear with me).

we both are enrolled in the same college, I am a senior at SCAD, and she is still declared a freshman at SCAD.

Over a year ago, Juniper was diagnosed with type one diabetes. I want to say that is possibly where all of this started. The diagnosis was taking an extreme mental toll on her. She was extremely sick and was unable to resume classes even in an online environment. Not to mention that her diagnosis itself was an absolute nightmare of a time. She visited the hospital in Savannah, and did not receive the diagnosis until she returned home to New Jersey when she had to RETURN to the hospital. Ever since her diagnosis, I’ve stuck by her side through thick and thin, and that is still my plan for as long as I live. In recent time however, there has been a decline in her mentality, and physicality. Next was the issue with her thyroid, from there, she had to begin taking medication, and we thought that was resolving the issue.

She began to explain to me that she was feeling tunnel vision, exhaustion, no motivation, nausea, I could list these on and on. Her family was on board with trying to help her, since she stayed in her room, majority of the time, they were trying to bring her out so she could properly eat a good meal, plenty of water, and getting needed exercise (as her doctor described to take care of herself). After my most recent visit with her and her family, I received word that she went to inpatient hospital for about a week. Before I left, all of us had sat down with her, and reminded her that we were there for her. She was struggling with severe depression, and needed and wanted the mental help to get back on her feet. We thought it would be a first great step when it came to taking care of herself.

after returning to Georgia, I am told that her sodium levels are low, as well as her magnesium, and a few others. After that, June explains to me that she has a stomach bug, she is in bed for about a week. I’m back at school, I get a phone call hearing that she is in the hospital again.

I try to text and call to check in with her the best I can manage. The day before she left the hospital, she told me about her new diagnosis, Addisons Disease.

I had to look up the meaning myself, as this is a very touchy subject for her. She is not producing hormones, or cortisol to my understanding. From there, the doctor put her on a steroid. That’s when I noticed the change in her behaviors.

The day before leaving the hospital, I noticed that Junes voice was very high-pitched. It sounded like she was on the verge of tears, and I grew very concerned. I would ask her if she is all right, and she would reassure me every time.

She wasn’t telling me very much, and I don’t blame her. I would be extremely overwhelmed to talk about this if I had that diagnosis. Over the course of the week of being home, her behavior felt erratic and fast. When we would speak to each other on the phone, she would repeat herself very often, or talk about things I didn’t understand. it felt very out of character for her, as if I was talking to another person. I was scared. Pretty soon, I don’t hear from her for two days, despite texting her and trying to call her.

This led to me, finally contacting her mother.

She is currently in the hospital again.

so far, the news I’ve been receiving hasn’t been terrible news. She has had an MRI, scans of her brain, and various other tests done. She can barely speak for herself, I say this from experience a FaceTiming her. She waves to me, or says a word or two.

This is where I am absolutely devastated. I live in Georgia, that is my home. Her home is New Jersey, there is only so much I can do in this situation.

That is why I wanted to start this gofundme.

I want to do the best I can for her and her family, I feel like I need to do something to help. I am still receiving updates from her family every day about how she is feeling, most recently, she is very tired.

anything helps. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

-Kaitlyn Swars