At The Age Of 10, She Was Diagnosed With A Severe Condition Said To Be More Painful Than Giving Birth
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A girl named Allie was diagnosed with a severe condition at the tender age of ten, and her condition is said to be more painful than giving birth to a baby.
Allie’s cousin Briana Ghbein explained on a GoFundMe page that Allie’s diagnosis is something called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome; also known as CRPS.
“Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a broad term describing excess and prolonged pain and inflammation that follows an injury to an arm or leg,” the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke outlines on their website.
“CRPS has acute (recent, short-term) and chronic (lasting greater than six months) forms. CRPS used to be known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and causalgia.”
“People with CRPS have changing combinations of spontaneous pain or excess pain that is much greater than normal following something as mild as a touch.”
“Other symptoms include changes in skin color, temperature, and/or swelling on the arm or leg below the site of injury.”
CRPS is very rare and though it can improve over time and disappear entirely for most people, others are left with incredible pain that leaves them essentially disabled.
For Allie, CRPS causes her to be in constant, excruciating pain. She was first diagnosed with the condition back in 2019.
GoFundMe; pictured above is Allie
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
“The condition is said to be more painful than childbirth, and it’s tortured sweet Allie these past few years,” Briana said. “CRPS has been called “the suicide disease” because so many people have given up hope.”
When Allie experiences a flare-up, things like drops of rain on her skin, a bracelet touching her, or the air from a ceiling fan cause her pain.
“While having an acute flare-up, she describes it as having a blow torch burning her legs, being stabbed repeatedly, and her bones being crushed, all at the same time,” Briana continued.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking. Though she has had some remission, unfortunately, she has been back in a wheelchair since November 8, 2021, due to this debilitating disease.”
Allie’s flare-ups have been happening in rapid succession, which has left her needing to be taken to the emergency room 4 times last month alone.
At one point during her treatment, doctors thought they had figured out a medication routine to help alleviate Allie’s pain, but days after starting on that, she wound up back in the emergency room.
Allie recently qualified to begin a new treatment at the Children’s of Wisconsin, located in Milwaukee, starting on December 13th.
Her treatment there will last between 4 to 6 weeks, and some of this will not be paid for by Allie’s insurance company.
“Allie just wants to be a normal kid without debilitating pain,” Allie’s mom Katie wrote. “It’s heartbreaking seeing how much this disease has affected her physically, mentally, and spiritually.
“She’s such an animal lover, and our two dogs, Kona and Willow, bring her so much joy in good times and bad.”
“She loves volleyball, dancing, and gymnastics, but her doctors advise against those activities due to her CRPS. She dreams of working in the medical field someday and helping others.”
“While dealing with this, Allie’s strength and courage has been inspirational. She is a light in our lives, and her kindness and positive spirit are seen by all who get to know her. We have faith that these additional treatments will bring her some relief.”
Briana created a GoFundMe to help raise money for her cousin Allie as she fights this awful disease.
If you would like to help Allie with her medical bills, you can do that here.
More About:Human Interest
Read This Next
