‘We feel helpless because we’re watching her suffer and there’s nothing anyone can do’: Family’s plea to help teen

A TERRITORY family is reaching out to the community with a GoFundMe campaign to help a teen with a debilitating medical condition live the life she deserves

A TERRITORY family is reaching out to the community to help a 15-year-old with a debilitating medical condition live the life she deserves.

With the help of a friend, Demi and her mum, who did not want hers or the family’s name published, have started a GoFundMe for their sister and daughter Courtney – who suffers from autonomic dysfunction orthostatic hypotension – so the family can move to a cooler climate.

The condition makes her blood pressure drop significantly when she stands.

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Courtney has severe symptoms from light-headedness and heart palpitations, and requires a defibrillator or to be injected with adrenaline to restart her heart when it stops every time she faints.

The family hopes to raise $25,000 for Courtney, her sister and their mum to move to Melbourne, where they can better manage and treat the 15-year-old’s condition.

Demi said Courtney had yet to find relief despite constant trials and error of medications.

There is no known cure, with doctors recommending Courtney move to a more temperate climate such as Melbourne.

A local family has started a GoFundMe for Courtney, 15, to move interstate where she can better manage her medical condition. Picture: SUPPLIED

“The hot weather up here is exacerbating her symptoms,” Demi said. “She can’t step outside of the house, she can’t get to her medical appointments. She can’t engage in any sort of physical therapy that might help strengthen her heart.

“Without getting to Melbourne and into a cooler climate, her condition is deteriorating dramatically.”

Demi said being homebound had taken a significant toll on Courtney’s mental and physical wellbeing.

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“She can’t even go outside and sit or walk around the block because it’s just too hot,” she said.

“We feel helpless because we’re watching her suffer and there’s nothing anyone can do.”

The GoFundMe is the family’s last option, having exhausted all other avenues for funding.

“We’re too desperate and Courtney’s too important for us not to be sharing this around and getting support,” she said in tears.

To donate visit gofundme.com/f/please-help-courtney-live-a-better-life

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