Christina’s Recovery Process - Glimmers of Hope

In the fall of 2020, while the world was trying its best to avoid Covid, Christina Gillion was healthy, loving her job and even winning awards for her work performance. 

Then in December 2020, she noticed a rash on her toe and didn’t think much of it. It began to spread to other toes and her hands and became increasingly painful. This was the beginning of a lengthy process and numerous doctor visits. After months, in March of 2021, she was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) along with several other coinciding diseases and conditions. 

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease that attacks the spine causing the vertebrae to fuse. Christina’s diagnosis is part of the Spondyloarthritis (SpA) family of inflammatory rheumatic diseases with common features of inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the spine & pelvic joints, as well as enthesitis where ligaments or tendons attach to the bone. She also now suffers Psoriatic Arthritis and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) within this SpA group. 

The painful onset of AS symptoms are believed to coincide with a severe infection or poisoning. Most cases appear to be hereditary, with a genetic marker indicating a family history. Christina tested negative for the gene and has no family history of AS. Her doctors believe she had an asymptomatic case of Covid in late October/early November of 2020, which then turned into long Covid and triggered the onset of her current autoimmune diseases. 

Since her diagnosis, treatments include weekly self-injections with Methotrexate (a form of chemotherapy) and regular IV infusions at the Lemmen-Holton Center to help halt the fusion of her joints and spine. The chemotherapy wipes her out for two days with side effects that include (but are not limited to): fatigue, pain, feeling cold all the time, hair loss, nausea and vomiting. She essentially trades two days, her weekend, for what she hopes will be productive days the rest of the week. Throughout all of this, she was still able to function and work. But, as the diseases and symptoms intensified and became overwhelming, in January of 2022, she lost her job and insurance benefits.

Christina now has a strong team of doctors whom she trusts. She recently completed a 10-week intensive and comprehensive program at Mary Free Bed to help her begin to adjust to her new normal and work through the constant pain these diseases have brought her. She is now in a transition program to help her begin this phase they call recovery. Recovery, in this instance, refers to learning to live again without the probability of full remission. There is no sugarcoating it: there are no cures for these diseases.

I share her story with you now because she needs our help. No one can fix all her medical issues, but with your help, we can give her a sense of financial security so she can focus solely on her health without the stress of finances. $15,000 will help bring bills up to date and provide six months of relief from financial stress. During this time, we hope disability assistance will be established, and with her medical treatments, she will be able to find a way to function more with her pain - and to one day be able to work again.  

How can you help?

Please donate if you are able. Every gift matters and makes a real difference.  

Please share this with your network on social media, through text or through email. Every share is one closer to reaching our goal!

Please send all prayers, well wishes, good vibes, and thoughts Christina's way! 

Better days are ahead. Could you help us get Christina there? 

If you would like to learn more about Ankylosing Spondylitis, this resource is helpful.