Help Me Get Back to Work! - Liat’s Medical Journey

My name is Liat, I’m 23 years old, and I’ve been disabled my entire life. I’m hoping that this fundraiser will help me afford the medical equipment and supplies in order to return to work and pursue my dreams.

Read the long version below :)

The Jewish Sages teach us: ‎“אין בעולם שמחה כהתרת הספקות” “There is no joy in this world so great as the removal of doubt.”

Let me tell you about removing doubt from my life, where my life is headed, and how I need your help to get there.

In the fall of 2020, I was beginning my capstone internship in special education. I’d worked in education for six years already and was looking forward to graduating with my Bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate the following spring. A few weeks into my internship, I became seriously ill and had to medically withdraw. Working with kids is my dream and stepping back from the classroom broke my heart. I’ve had symptoms of chronic illness most of my life, but this was different. In a matter of weeks, I went from teaching all day to being unable to sit upright for any period of time.

The last three years of my life have been spent searching for answers, treatment, and relief.

Baruch Hashem, after over a decade of being a medical mystery and enduring countless medical tests and procedures, I finally have those answers. At 22 years old, I was diagnosed with Spastic Diplegia, a type of Cerebral Palsy that causes muscle contractures, severe pain, lack of coordination and limited range of motion in my ankles and legs. Cerebral Palsy is almost always diagnosed in early childhood and because my condition was missed, I was unable to receive early intervention treatments.

I have also been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Type 3, Hypermobile. Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) means that all connective tissue throughout my body is defective. Connective tissues, made up of collagen, are essentially the glue that holds your body together. As a result, hEDS affects every part of the body, from brain matter and blood vessels to bones, joints and skin. Individuals with hEDS experience frequent joint dislocations, fragile skin, difficulty regulating heart rate and blood pressure, and gastrointestinal disorders, among other difficulties. In hEDS, the autonomic nervous system is dysfunctional. This means that for bodies like mine, the fight-or-flight system is impaired, as is the ability to tolerate physical exertion. Without treatment, the exertion of folding a pile of laundry or simply using the restroom is enough to put me out of commission.

The journey to these answers has been windy and long. I am grateful for the doctors that looked at my case with curiosity and without bias. I am grateful for the friends, family members, and other important people who’ve cared for me and have supported me every step of the way. Without their help, I wouldn’t be where I am.

With much gratitude to Hashem, I now have a name (well, names) for my physical challenges. This removal of doubt has been affirming, freeing, and most importantly - has allowed me to find medical treatments that alleviate my symptoms and can help me get my life back.

Working with children is my calling - my purpose given to me by Hashem and my way to make this world a better place. I plan to finish my degree and return to working in the field.

I hope to integrate my experiences with disability and advocacy so that every child, every person, gets the support they need to reach their fullest potential. My ultimate career goal is to bridge the gap between education and medicine by becoming an early intervention or child life specialist, while also continuing my work as a disability advocate.

Even with insurance coverage, the expenses that come with my treatment are exorbitant. I need to work to afford my health, but I first need my health in order to be able to work. My conditions require a multidisciplinary approach and many treatments, specialists, and medical devices are not covered by insurance. I aspire to be financially independent - move out on my own, work full time, and one day have a family. But to do that, I need to be able to work. And I can’t do that if I’m rationing my medical supplies just to afford the next co-pay.

With this GoFundMe, I am hoping to raise $5,600. This money will go toward the purchase of specialized crutches and braces to support my unstable joints. These mobility aids will make it possible for me to be on my feet and return to work and to the classroom. Funds raised will also go toward medication, travel expenses to specialist appointments, and other medical supplies.

This was long - thank you if you made it this far! ❤️ Thank you for any donations, big or small, and even for just reading and sharing my story. One day, b’ezrat Hashem, I will be able to pay the chesed forward.