A Love Story~Rachel and Steven Phillips

Artwork by Michaela Oteri

I recently met Rachel and Steven Phillips on Facebook. Despite going through devastating health challenges, I was struck by their grace and love for each other.


This shines through every time they speak or write updates of Rachel's condition.


They desperately need to get Rachel to Europe for her life-saving surgery. Here is her story:

"First American Approved to Receive an Organ Grown From Their Own Stem Cells Will Take Place This Year "

Excerpts by Jaclynn Rose Boley

                                      

"Rachel Phillips was a ballet dancer who performed with the Royal Ballet in London, the Kirov in St. Petersburg, Russia and other major companies in the US and abroad. Her world came to an abrupt halt when she began to have complications from a rare connective tissue disorder. With her airways now over 90% collapsed, her only option is to re-grow her trachea using her own stem cells.

Rachel with Siena

This life-saving therapy is not yet approved to be performed in the United States, nor will it be covered by Rachel’s health insurance. 


In addition to the fight of their lives, Rachel and her husband Steven face mountains of medical and other related expenses. They must raise the funds necessary, not only for this life-saving treatment, but also to travel overseas and stay there through Rachel’s recovery, care for Rachel’s service dog Siena, and so on.

The clock is ticking. We need your help NOW in bringing awareness of Rachel’s life-threatening situation to a wider audience for the purpose of knocking down regulatory barriers standing in her way and to raise the funds necessary to pay for this necessary treatment."

You can watch a recent story about Rachel with her husband Steven Phillips covered by KHQA here: 

In Rachel's own words:





"Many efforts are in the works to help Rachel get to Europe; The website with the most information (including all efforts and past media coverage) is www.helprachelbreathe.com. If you wish to donate you can do so directly on their website. 

A Facebook Group and Facebook Page supporting Rachel have been created. 


You are welcome to request joining the group and "Like" the page too!  


There you will find posters that you are allowed to print up and post in your community, purchase the approved available artwork, post stories about Rachel on the different social media venues, sign the attached petition, visit their website to find out more about the Phillips family, which include Siena of course, and donate to their cause! 

Here is Wikipedia's definition of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Excerpts of this post were written by Jaclynn Rose Boley with her permission. Thank you Jaclynn aka Carmen, my brain fog needed your help! Thank you Michaela Oteri for allowing me to use your beautiful artwork. Her artwork can be found Here!