The Australian population who happened to tune into SBS’s program Struggle Street last night have had their heart strings so tightly pulled it’s hard to fully comprehend.
Michelle, a single mother, is the full time carer of her adult daughter Jessica who has a rare disease called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type 6 (EDS).
The rare condition causes Jessica’s connective tissue to break down.
She told SBS, ‘I’m in pain every day. It feels like knives stabbing into me.’
Jessica also suffers from autism, a moderate intellectual disability, scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis, intestinal failure – only to name a few.
The viewers were told there was no cure for EDS.
In the segment, Jessica showed viewers the type of equipment she needs for her condition, including a $3000 wheelchair, a wheelchair van and hoist, and Jessica is currently seeking $60,000 to receive specialised treatment in the US.
During the segment viewers were also shown Michelle’s sacrifices for her daughter. The dedicated mother quit her job as a pharmacy assistant in order to care for Jessica full-time. Michelle receives the carers pension, and Jessica is on a full disability pension, so the pair had set up a GoFundMe page in May of 2016 to help pay for the medical costs.
In the year and a half since the page was set up the pair had raised $445.
Jessica said on last night’s segment, ‘So far it’s, it’s slow but slow is better than nothing.
‘That’s the way I see it. It’s better than not having no fundraising at all.’
However, the pair did not expect what would happen after the show went to air.
Their GoFundMe page was inundated with donations ranging from $5 to $2000.
The page has now garnered over $99,000 for Jessica’s treatment.
Marshall Heald, SBS Director of Television and Online Content said, ‘The response and generosity to Jessica and Michelle’s story, as well as the many offers to help the other contributors on Struggle Street, has been immense and goes to show the power of television to bring positive change.’
To find out more about Jessica’s GoFundMe campaign, click here.
For information about carer support in your local area, call Carers Australia on 1800 242 636.
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