A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Daughter

For years, my daughter Chelsea has suffered. Not just from agonizing pain and constant nausea, but from being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and subjected to harmful treatments. She was told her symptoms were in her head. She was forced into treatments that only made her worse. But the truth was far more serious—Chelsea has Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) and Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS)—and she needs urgent surgery to survive.

Now, after nine hospital admissions, years of unnecessary suffering, and too many moments of lost hope, Chelsea is finally on the waiting list for surgery. This could give her life back—but the road ahead is long, and we need your help to get her through it.

Chelsea’s Story: Four Years of Misdiagnosis and Pain

Chelsea’s journey began in 2021 when she was admitted to the hospital in critical condition—unable to keep food down, too weak to stand, and fainting from exhaustion. But instead of looking deeper, doctors wrongly diagnosed her with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and placed her in a program meant for eating disorders. She was force-fed through an NG tube, while her true condition went undiagnosed.

While other young women in the program improved, Chelsea only got worse. She endured this cycle for nearly four years, spending months in hospitals, each visit lasting up to eight weeks at a time.

Chelsea’s body was failing her in ways doctors refused to acknowledge. She wasn’t just weak—she was collapsing. She wasn’t just tired—her heart was racing uncontrollably. Eventually, she was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and abnormal sinus tachycardia, meaning when she stands, her body struggles to regulate blood flow, causing her to faint.

Finally, after relentless searching and advocacy, a compassionate ER doctor ran a CT angiogram—and everything changed. Imaging revealed severe vascular compressions cutting off blood flow to major organs. Further testing confirmed three areas needing surgery. The pain was never psychological—it was real, and it was life-threatening.

Now, Chelsea is waiting for the surgery that could finally stop her suffering.