Help Ella with Medical Expenses & Transport

Our sweet cousin, niece, sister, girlfriend, and daughter – Ella Blue Paskel – is fighting several serious health challenges and really needs our help!

Ella caught COVID in December of 2021 and has been dealing with a wide array of medical mysteries in the 8 months since then. Her symptoms included fainting multiple times a day, swelling in her tongue and throat leading to Anaphylaxis daily, losing 30 pounds in just 7 days, and abnormal heart rhythm, to name a few. The situation went from concerning to critical over the last two months.

After months of doctors appointments, tests, and misdiagnosis, Ella finally got diagnosed with POTS Disease and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome with symptoms including Angioedema (swelling under the skin), Urticaria (severe rashes and hives), Gastronomy Issues, and Anaphylaxis, along with many others. She found out that she has had these illnesses her entire life, but they remained dormant until COVID came into her system and triggered them.

Ella has been in the ICU for 7 days as of 8.26 and will be in the hospital until she is stable enough to receive treatment elsewhere – which we expect to be for at least a few more weeks. Before this last week, she was previously in and out of the hospital many times over the last several months.

During this time in the ICU, she has gotten a tongue biopsy, a colonoscopy, a bone marrow biopsy, a skin biopsy, has been medically resuscitated many times, had a feeding tube put in, and has a central line – all in hopes of getting answers on where to go next. Unfortunately, as of now, all we know is that only two drugs treat her condition and if they don’t work, the only other option is chemotherapy.

Her insurance deductible is restarting next week at $15,000. Her new medical prescriptions cost $4,000 for one medication and $5,000 for another - for just a month’s supply. So in addition to her medicine, her medical costs are through the roof and are just continuing to pile on.

In addition to the physical strain on her body, the mental strain keeps increasing as the doctors at Ella’s current hospital in California are unable to treat her medical conditions properly. Sadly, there are only two specialist in the California area that treat her condition, but neither to treat her specific, severe case of both POTS and MCAS.

We are hoping to secure an Angel Flight when Ella is stable to go reside in a different state to get the treatment she needs! We highly doubt the cost of a medical transport will be covered by insurance due to her uncommon illness and insurance; however, we are still trying and hoping! If it isn’t covered (likely), this plane ride will cost at least $25,000. Ella is unable to take a regular plane or private plane due to needing supervision in air from a medical team in case she goes into Anaphylaxic shock or Afib – which, based on the last two months, is highly likely. She also requires a constant drip of Epinephrine on the plane ride administered by a professional. If you or someone you know can help us with transportation for Ella, we would be so appreciative!

This GoFundMe account was created to help Ella with her medical bills, medications, treatments and transportation to a specialty hospital and doctor to treat her needs! We would be so grateful for any donation to help get Ella the proper care and treatment. Due to her sickness, Ella cannot make any income or work until she is stable. She was recently fired from her job and it’s unknown how long it will be until she is able to work again, and what work she will be able to do once she is able to work.

Thank you for reading her story and thinking about her in this time of need.

- Ella’s Family