Family hoping for answers as Kirsty begins treatment
A woman who was videoed writhing in pain and begging to die has travelled to America for treatment.
Kirsty Keep, from Mangravet, was diagnosed with lupus seven years ago, but discovered earlier this year she was not suffering from the auto-immune disease and her chronic pain and fatigue are being caused by something else.
Her family is convinced she has Lyme disease, caused by a tick bite when she was 12, and launched a fundraising campaign for £45,000 to pay for treatment at the Sponaugle Wellness Institute in Florida.
So far, £ 55,406 has been donated, but the 23-year-old’s mum Theresa said this week the money won’t last long as the cost of treatment is so high.
Speaking on the fundraising page, which was set up by Kirsty’s sister Chloe in February, Mrs Keep said treatment so far has already cost $14,000 and thanked donors for their support.
She said Kirsty’s veins were so bad they had trouble at first start- ing treatment, but she has now had a port fitted to enable the drugs to be administered.
One of the tests she had has showed she has the hormone level of an 80-year-old woman.
She said: “The doctor thinks she has Lyme and mould toxic- ity. She’s had a pet scan done so hopefully he will have some solid answers soon.
“The port alone was nearly $2,000, pet scan $1,000, for one prescription they wanted $1,600, we have had to get other prescriptions, but left that one as was so much.
“The doctor expects her to need a lot of treatment at this price the money won’t last long.”
The family was inundated with donations after her desperate mum shared a heartbreaking video of her writhing in pain on a hospital bed in May. Various fundraisers have also been organised by friends and family in Maidstone and Tonbridge.
Kirsty had begged to be taken to a Swiss suicide clinic every day, according to her mum, who feared her daughter’s time was running out.
Her fund is still being regularly updated, on Thursday she received £770 on her crowdfunding page from customers and staff of the Co-op in Tonbridge.
Donate at tinyurl.com/ KirstysFund