Toowoomba teenager Abbey Gage launches GoFundMe after complex regional pain syndrome diagnosis

A Toowoomba teenager who spends every waking hour in debilitating pain now has hope for a normal life, after starting a new treatment. Here’s how you can help.

A bright Toowoomba teenager who spends every waking hour in debilitating pain has hope for a normal life, now that she started specialised treatment. Pictures: GoFundMe

A bright Toowoomba teenager who spends every waking hour in debilitating pain has hope for a normal life after a Toowoomba doctor began treating her.

Abbey Gage, 16, suffers from complex regional pain syndrome - an extremely painful condition that has no known cure.

Each day the Charlton teenager’s foot feels as if the skin is being pulled off, accompanied by an intense burning, stabbing, and tingling sensation.

Ms Gage said Abbey is an amazing artist which is something she finds therapeutic during painful flairs. Pictures: GoFundMe

Her mother, Sarah Gage, said since the diagnosis, the straight-A student had to stop attending school and doing the things she loved, like karate and walking her dog.

“She has been robbed of all these little simple things, that most of us take for granted,” she said.

“Abbey is so clever and kind, a true gentle soul, and her young life has been taken over.

“(She) has a beautiful heart and is more concerned about how everyone else is coping, despite being in excruciating pain.”

Ms Gage, said the daily “torture” was taking a toll on Abbey’s mental health.

Abbey’s brother, Sarah Gage, and Abby Gage. Pictures: GoFundMe

“The struggles are becoming more intense and difficult for her as each day goes on,” she said.

“(It) is classed as the most painful chronic pain condition that is known.

“No one deserves this level of pain, especially a young girl with so much ahead of her.”

The single mum of two said she had to stop working to care for Abbey, which made it difficult to pay for a specialised treatment.

“(The Toowoomba doctor) has had great success with treating CRPS with this method in the past and is confident that this will help (her) into remission,” she said.

“She will be booked in for a week-long hospital stay to receive ketamine infusions.”

Charlton teenager Abbey Gage, 16. Pictures: GoFundMe

As the medical treatment is not covered by insurance, Ms Gage started an online fundraiser which raised $4265 of a $10,000 target.

“All money raised will go to paying for her medical treatment while in hospital, and rehabilitation,” she said.

“We just want to see our Abbey happy and living life to the fullest again.”

Originally published as Toowoomba teenager Abbey Gage launches GoFundMe after complex regional pain syndrome diagnosis