An Australian family has seen their vacation turn into a disaster after their 10-year-old daughter developed "the most painful" condition known to humans.
The Macey family were vacationing in Fiji when they discovered a blister on 10-year-old Bella's foot. The blister subsequently became infected and caused Bella's foot to become inflamed.
The inflammation would then become Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare and debilitating illness that is often described as "the most painful condition" known to humankind.
The syndrome, which is also incurable, causes chronic and extreme pain, which has seen Macey suffer with excruciating shooting pains up her right leg.
Describing the pain to A Current Affair, via news.com.au, Macey said, “It's all sharp, it’s burning, it’s tingly. It’s all sorts of different pain I never knew was possible.
“I can’t have a shower, I can’t have a bath. I can’t put (on) any sheets or anything on … even with a tissue, you can’t touch it with anything, otherwise I will scream.”
Macey, a previously healthy 10-year-old, can no longer take part in the usual activities she would ordinarily and routinely enjoy. Even walking and running can prove to cause debilitating pain for her.
No doctors have been able to provide solutions in Australia, meaning Macey's parents are now turning to medical professionals in the United States for help. The entire ordeal has left the family feeling helpless.
“I just want to give her a big cuddle but I can’t because if I cuddle her, then it moves her and that hurts her," said Bella's mom, Emma Macey. A painful trip to the US could mean that Bella receives treatment at the Spero Clinic in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The clinic's website says of CRPS and the treatment they opt for when treating it,
"Often referred to as the 'suicide disease,' CRPS is a condition associated with the imbalance and malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. At The Spero Clinic, our team is passionate about getting to the root cause of conditions and treating the body from the inside out.
"We have found that the most effective approach to treating the imbalance caused by CRPS is to treat and strengthen the central nervous system from within. This will allow the body to heal itself. If you identify with most of the symptoms listed here, do not lose hope."
The problems now facing the Macey family is whether or not they can afford the expensive treatment. But Emma Macey has said they are ready to go to desperate lengths to restore their daughter's health.
“We’ll sell our house if that’s what we need to do, there’s nothing we won’t do to make sure that she gets better."
A GoFundMe campaign to help pay for Bella's treatment has been set up, with people from around Australia already raising $208,000 of the $235,000 goal.
