Your generous gift will help us:
- Fund specialised support programs that empower young people to manage their illness and maintain their mental health
- Raise awareness and educate healthcare professionals to improve diagnosis and treatment pathways
- Advocate for systemic change to ensure that ME/CFS and long COVID are recognised as serious, complex and chronic illnesses deserving of research and healthcare investment.
Audrey’s Story: A Young Life Interrupted by ME/CFS
Audrey was just 14 years old when she first noticed something was wrong. What began as mild fatigue and occasional aches gradually worsened into a relentless energy drain, brain fog, nausea, and pain. Initially, she rationalised her symptoms – blaming hormonal changes or teenage moodiness. But as months passed, her condition deteriorated. She found herself unable to attend school regularly, needing to sleep during class, and withdrawing from friends and family.
Despite her intuition that something was seriously wrong, Audrey’s journey through the healthcare system was met with scepticism and misdiagnosis. Doctors initially attributed her symptoms to polycystic ovarian syndrome or dismissed her complaints as teenage laziness. Audrey’s voice, her lived experience, was often ignored or dismissed – an all-too-common reality for many with ME/CFS and long COVID, especially young women.
It wasn’t until Audrey meticulously documented her symptoms and advocated fiercely for herself that she was finally diagnosed with ME/CFS at just 16. Her resilience shone through in her refusal to give up, even when faced with disbelief and frustration. She shared in her recent podcast that feeling gaslit and misunderstood was one of the most painful aspects of her illness. Yet, Audrey’s courage and determination to find answers and advocate for her health are truly inspiring.
"As cliche as it sounds, it truly is key to trust your gut. You know your body more than anyone. No matter what people say to you, no matter how cruel they are, no matter how much they disregard what you're going through, you know you have to believe in yourself, in the reality that you live."
Today, as pictured above, Audrey continues to navigate her illness with discipline, pacing herself carefully to avoid post-exertional malaise – a hallmark of ME/CFS and in approximately half of those living with long COVID. Despite her challenges, she maintains hope, supported by her family and friends, and sends a powerful message:
"You don’t have to be inspirational; you just have to keep showing up for yourself."
Why Your Support Matters
Our Telehealth nurses have provided a beacon of hope for Audrey and her family, offering support and understanding.
Audrey’s story highlights a critical truth: people living with ME/CFS and long COVID need more than just medical treatment – they need understanding, validation, and accessible specialised support services.
Unfortunately, many young people like Audrey face a healthcare system that lacks the knowledge and resources to provide appropriate care. This gap leaves them feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and often, unseen.
"The help and support provided by Emerge Australia has made such a difference – from practical advice on how to manage my symptoms and just feeling like I’m less alone."
This Christmas, if you are able, your tax-deductable donation can make a tangible difference for Emerge Australia’s services – providing specialised support, clinical education, and advocacy for people with ME/CFS, long COVID and associated overlapping conditions.
Don’t just take our word for it. Of those who use our services:
- 95% Patient satisfaction rate
- 98% GP education participants likely to recommend Emerge Australia‘s education to their clinical colleagues
- 81% GP education participants likely to make changes in their practice following their education experience with Emerge Australia
"There's nothing you can do for people who don't want to hear your voice. The only thing you can do is find people like Emerge Australia who want to listen and make sure your voice matters."
Will You Donate Today To Turn That Vision Into Reality?
As we approach Christmas, a season of giving, we invite you, if you are able, to give a financial gift to Emerge Australia’s support services so that people like Audrey can navigate through their condition to a better life.
Every dollar you give brings us closer to a world where no young person feels dismissed or misunderstood because of their illness. Your generosity will help us provide hope, validation, and real change for those living with ME/CFS, long COVID and associated overlapping conditions.
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