Help Hope Live for Whitney West
Hi Y’all! Thanks for stopping by. As many of you know, I have a rare chronic illness called Fibrosing Mediastinitis, which has brought entirely too much drama into my life. The nerve! Up until 2022, I was managing it fairly well. Then Covid-19 came along, and my body decided to throw a whole catastrophe instead of just a setback. Because my illness makes me extra vulnerable to bacterial infections, Covid-19 opened the floodgates—literally.
Here’s a look at the rollercoaster that has been my health journey over the past two years:
- November 2022 – Get Covid-19. Mild symptoms, recover in about a week.
- December 2022 – Rushed to the hospital with pneumonia (plus vitamin deficiencies I didn’t know I had). Admitted for 3-4 days.
- Jan-March 2023 – Recovering, regaining strength, trying to get back to “normal.”
- July 2023 – Pneumonia again. Managed at home (which, in hindsight, was probably not the best idea).
- October 2023 – Back to the hospital for shortness of breath and low oxygen. Pneumonia again, plus a serious amount of fluid in my lungs. Admitted for 4-5 days.
- November 2023 – A week later, I’m back in the hospital. Pneumonia is still hanging on, plus now I have the flu (for the first time ever—lucky me). Another 4-5 days admitted.
- January 2024 – Rushed to the hospital with dangerously low oxygen (60s) and a high pulse (130s-150s). Straight to the ICU, where I find out I still have pneumonia and blood clots in my lungs (pulmonary embolism).
- July 2024 – While in the middle of buying a home that needed unexpected repairs, my grandmother—who I had been caregiving for—passed away.
- August 2024 – The stress of everything landed me in the hospital again.
- October 2024 – I had 1.5 liters of fluid removed from around my right lung (thoracentesis). The procedure caused a lot of pain, and I was much less mobile for months.
- January 2025 – My longest hospital stay in recent years. While admitted, I had two thoracentesis procedures that removed almost 3 liters of fluid from around both my lungs.
- End of January 2025 – Just as I was recovering, my mom unexpectedly passed away—only six months after my grandmother.
Updates (1)
March 13, 2025
Thanks so much for the donations so far. I’m going to at minimum be able to find a scooter soon. Regarding my health: I’ve been doing ok but started to retain a little fluid and have been managing it. I did an x-ray when I first felt it and it did show fluid on my right lung (the trouble maker). I do think I was able to get that off me and I’m trying to keep it off. I’ve had food poisoning this week so it’s really thrown off the momentum I had going with lifestyle changes but I’m committed to reducing my sodium, staying hydrated, and getting more rest. The last part is so important because I haven’t truly rested and relaxed in years! Again- THANK YOU ALL! Continue to share!
Guestbook
March 26, 2025
I love you and am praying for you.
Kiana Moore
March 21, 2025
Dear Whitney - you are such a courageous and powerful woman - I am so inspired by how you face and rise to your challenges with such dignity and grace. Sending lots of healing love and energy your way. Andrew
Andrew White
March 19, 2025
May God Bless you and keep you!!!
Anonymous
