Alison: Fierce Spirit - Fierce Pulmonary Disease

After overcoming many difficult hurdles in her young life, Alison, at 29, stands poised for success.  Finally, she is the real Alison, a hopeful, inspired, and confident young woman ready to chase her calling and change the world for the better.   She is taking psychology courses at her local community college as the first step towards becoming a counselor.  Determined to help those who are experiencing some of the same difficulties that she survived.   But over the last year, pursuing that dream started to become more difficult as her health began to deteriorate. Weight loss, severe fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest and abdominal pain, and eventually disorientation and memory loss led to nine hospitalizations.  While on their own, none of the symptoms had clear explanation, eventually a pattern emerged that led to her diagnosis.  The pulmonologist and toxicologist put the pieces together and tests confirmed that she was suffering from toxic shock syndrome   and ideopathic pulmonary fibrosis  with Immunodeficiency Disorder  and chronic respiratory asthma. 

In layman’s terms (because I am not a medical professional), Alison has pockets of toxin and mold spores that have been inhabiting her lungs likely due to inhaling the black mold and asbestos found in her apartment, creating a cancerous tumor of sorts that is continuing to spread until treatment.  Because she is also immune-compromised, she will require specialized radiation along with medications to rid her lungs of the toxins, support her general health, and to treat her respiratory difficulties that are the result of scar tissue building up in her lungs.  This is a daunting diagnosis for a young woman – especially in a pandemic where any decreased lung functioning could have fatal consequences.  In the face of it all, Alison remains true to the motto that I found on one of her pictures – strong mind, fierce soul, brave heart.  She is hopeful and determined to regain her health so that she can move forward and give back to others in a meaningful way.  In her words, “I have finally found my calling, am succeeding beyond my wildest dreams – and I can’t fail when I have come this far.”


Alison had a difficult beginning, experiencing emotional abuse by her mother who struggled with addiction and raised by her grandparents.  She experienced sexual abuse and had difficult adolescent years during which she struggled with her own mental health needs.  While her whole story is important and powerful, there is no room for it in this forum.  Sufficed to say that Alison managed to do the hard work necessary to climb her way out of violence and abuse.  She transformed a toxic lifestyle and homelessness  into a healthy lifestyle.   Alison has spent her life looking for the opportunity to give love and what she’s always lacked; receiving love.  She has transformed her  lifestyle into one that includes being the caregiver for her aging grandparents and a full-time student pursuing her dream of helping others who have a climb of their own to make. Alison wants to advocate for others as she never had an advocate for herself at a young impressionable age.  She wants to put an end to toxic environments and help those who wish to make life changes.  She knows there’s more to life than what home you grow up in. 
 
Unfortunately, Alison’s history and circumstances mean that she has a very limited support system and no financial resources to pay the out- of- pocket fees required for her immediate medical treatment.  In addition to having no way of getting the treatment started, the living situation that led to her illness left her in a financial hole.  When the toxins were detected, her diagnosis led to a health department inspection of her apartment that resulted in the apartment being declared uninhabitable due to mold and asbestos.  Alison had to move with 48 hours notice.  She faces adversity head-on, so gathered her resolve and used all of the money she had left to fill out applications for apartments. 

So, friends of young people full of potential – I am asking on behalf of Alison that you consider helping her in any way that you feel that you can.   Most urgently,  Alison needs help with the deposit required to get her treatment started. ($3500).  Starting the treatment promptly is vital to her avoiding more serious health consequences (like developing lung cancer or needing a lung transplant) later.  Secondly, she needs to be able to focus on her health and healing.  This means not just taking medications and treatments, but also avoiding the stress of becoming homeless and financially struggling.  I want her to have help with her living expenses while she is undergoing treatment and unable to work ($10,000). 
 
Helping Alison right now would mean that she can get the urgent treatment that she needs.  It would mean that she can pay basic living expenses while she undergoes treatment – increasing the odds that the treatment will be successful and without complications.  It also would mean that we would get the opportunity to see someone who has faced so much adversity, experience the kindness that the world has to offer. Her motto of strength, ferocity, and bravery is an admirable one – but sometimes these things are not enough by themselves.  They need a little extra boost from people like us.   Now that you have met Alison, I hope that you believe so too and will join me in being a part of that.

Alison will be starting a blog for her new connections and new found friends to see her progress.  Giving back to the community by helping a beautiful soul that has been knocked down is an investment in the future.  I have spent time with Alison more and more frequently and I can say efforts will not be wasted.  She is a strong warrior, empowered by all she has overcome, and an extraordinary girl.   She is eager to have the opportunity to "pay it forward" through service to others - particularly those who struggle with mental health issues and are in need of advocacy. 

Let’s join together and fight for the future of an extraordinary young woman.