Chloe Smith

Today is HOPE IN ACTION!

Chloe’s medical journey is a roller coaster–lots of twists, turns, loop de loops, and death defying drops–managing her current situation involving multiple complex, rare chronic illnesses and injuries. One of Chloe’s newly prescribed rescue medications is $33,000 per box which only treats one to two episodes of potentially life-threatening airway swells. Currently, Medicare is denying coverage of Chloe’s life-saving medication.

Chloe has her hands full managing primary immune deficiencies, hereditary angioedema, and autoimmune complications. To put it simply, parts of Chloe’s immune system are missing or do not function properly.

Additionally, following physical trauma, Chloe suffered numerous vascular and musculoskeletal injuries to the supporting structures in her neck and brain which causes intracranial hypertension. This, in turn, creates a host of other complications, such as compression on the optic nerves.

Chloe really needs your help! Will be answer the call for HOPE?

Given the uncertain prognosis in dealing with both catastrophic illness and catastrophic injury with potentially dangerous comorbid crossover, Chloe is doing her best to keep her spirits high! As she is able, Chloe is active in using her voice to advocate for the rights of those with disabilities, in particular those with invisible disabilities. She is using her life experiences, both positive and negative, to make a difference.

Unfortunately, most of her financial resources have been devoted to basic survival after no longer being able to meet employer expectations on a regular basis due to frequency of treatment and unexpected, lengthy absences.

Chloe needs to move VERY SOON to a safer living situation that does not involve stairs to access her residence. She also needs supplemental therapies that are not covered by insurance so that she can live her best life with the limitations present.

The zebra is the mascot for rare diseases because of a famous medical adage: “When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.” This saying, used to teach medical students to look for common causes of symptoms first, was flipped by the rare disease community. They adopted the zebra as a symbol of strength and resilience, showing that sometimes the rare answer is the correct one. As you can see, Chloe likes to dress in zebra stripes to strike up a conversation!

Chloe chooses to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because this charity assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Catastrophic Illness and Catastrophic Injury.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Chloe and her loved ones thank you for your support!