Rachael Weeks

Family and friends of Rachael Weeks are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a unique type of transplant, one that will change the trajectory of her ongoing health challenges. Rachael has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.

Eight years ago, Rachael saw a doctor regarding some ongoing digestive issues and changes in mental health. She was diagnosed with parasites and was treated with antimicrobials and antibiotics over the course of two years, which completely wiped out the flora (good and bad) in her gut. As a result, various pathogens took over her microbiome and she was diagnosed with SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), candida and H. Pylori which lead to hypothyroidism and eventually an autoimmune response to mold. During this rollercoaster of changes in her health, the physical symptoms were debilitating at times, but the impact on her mental health is what was really catastrophic. She felt further and further from herself and eventually hit rock bottom. She had done everything every doctor told her to do, followed every protocol, made all the dietary changes, spent thousands of dollars to feel good temporarily then face another decline. She didn’t have the mental or physical stamina to show up for her son, husband or the people in her life.

After hitting rock bottom two years ago, she sought care from a provider outside of her insurance network and was able to make some progress in her health. She’s in a much more stable place, but lacks the resilience to live life without fear of anything that might disrupt her microbiome.

FMT (Fecal Microbiota Transplant) was presented to her as a treatment that could repopulate her microbiome with good bacteria and in doing so would help reverse the damage that’s been done over the course of the lasts 8 years. Since this procedure is currently only approved for a bacterial overgrowth called C. Diff here in the U.S., she plans to travel to a private clinic in the UK called the Taymount Clinic, where they are currently treating a broad spectrum of health conditions with FMT.

With your support, Rachael will be able to travel to the UK for treatment and start living life again.