The 28-Year-Old’s Battle with “Suicide Disease”: Emily Morton’s Story

Every day for nearly three years, Emily Morton has faced a challenge few can comprehend. At the start of 2022, Emily was living her dream life in Australia, having just married her soulmate, Andy. The couple was excitedly planning to start a family together. However, fate had a different plan for Emily when she began experiencing an unexplained pain in her teeth.

What started as a minor nagging sensation soon turned into an excruciating ordeal that took over her life. She initially suspected a dental issue and visited a dentist. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find anything wrong, and within days, the pain spread like wildfire across her mouth and face. Imagine feeling like a dentist is drilling your teeth nonstop—this was Emily’s new reality.

The discomfort evolved into electrifying shocks on both sides of her face, triggered by the slightest touch. Smiling, talking, eating—all became sources of unbearable agony. As Emily described it, it’s akin to being struck by lightning repeatedly—so intense that it could bring anyone to their knees. Despite numerous visits to dentists and doctors, no one could pinpoint the cause of her suffering.

Key Takeaways

• Emily Morton suffers from atypical trigeminal neuralgia, often termed the “suicide disease” due to its severe pain levels.
• Despite extensive medical consultations and tests, finding an effective treatment remains elusive.
• A potential solution, MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery, offers hope but comes with high costs not covered by insurance.

The Diagnosis and Struggle

After undergoing countless brain scans and blood tests without any clear answers, Emily was finally diagnosed with atypical trigeminal neuralgia. This condition affects the trigeminal nerve responsible for transmitting sensations from the face to the brain and can cause severe pain from even the gentlest touch. While it typically affects one side of the face, Emily’s case is particularly severe as she experiences pain all over.

Medical professionals describe it as one of the most painful conditions known to medicine. This disorder has earned its somber nickname because many sufferers feel their quality of life has been so diminished that they wish for release from their suffering. Even after Emily’s diagnosis, there were still no clear answers about how or why she developed this condition.

Quest for Relief and Hope

Emily and her husband have spent thousands of dollars seeking treatments both locally and internationally. They’ve traveled extensively in search of answers that might restore some semblance of normalcy to their lives. The financial burden has been immense with each treatment costing upwards of AUD 15,000 (USD 9,300). Despite these efforts, relief remains elusive.

However, there is hope on the horizon. A cutting-edge neurosurgery known as MRI-guided focused ultrasound is now available in Australia. This procedure uses ultrasound waves precisely targeted at a region of the brain called the thalamus to disrupt pain signals. Although promising a 50/50 chance of relief, this innovative treatment is not covered by insurance and would cost over USD 40,000 (AUD 25,000), including travel and rehabilitation expenses.

A Community Comes Together

Determined not to let financial obstacles stand in their way, Emily’s sister Rachel set up a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of raising enough money for the surgery. To date, they’ve raised USD 20,000 (AUD 12,000) thanks to generous donations from supporters moved by Emily’s story. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming and gives Emily hope for eventual healing.

“I am so grateful,” she shared with emotion when discussing how far they’ve come towards reaching their goal. “In 2024 and beyond,” she believes there must be emerging technology capable enough not only help herself but others battling similar invisible illnesses too.”

Final Thoughts: Supporting Each Other Through Adversity

As she continues navigating this challenging journey towards finding relief from unrelenting pain—or even potentially curing it someday —Emily focuses on appreciating life’s small joys while taking each day as it comes alongside loved ones supporting every step along way too.”People who have this condition are honestly some bravest individuals ever encountered,” remarks courageously amid ongoing personal trials faced daily head-on despite adversity encountered throughout process overall thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus far already endured thus
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