I did not think it would come to this, but here we are.
Hello everyone. If you don't know me, my name is Émilie.
In the summer of 2022, shortly after settling into the city, I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. This diagnosis has dramatically shifted the course of my life. The intention for this go fund me is to help me take my life back, to fund my healing journey, and primarily to help pay for a program I deeply believe could help me take control of my life again.
MY STORY:
I moved to Toronto initially to get out and start a life of my own in a city I know is ripe with opportunity and filled with people I love. I had gotten a 9-5 customer support job to pay the bills, had just dyed my hair neon orange, was getting excited to join dance classes, go to drum circles, and live freely when the universe decided to give me a huge slap-in-the-face-wake-up-call, and my health took a sharp turn for the worse.
Second night in the emergency room:
My body's emergency alarm bells ringing took the form of bloody stools, cramps, bloating, weight loss, weakness, and heavy gas. After ignorantly running a canoeing program in the heat through a one-off gig, I couldn't shake dizzy spells, extreme exhaustion, mood swings and brain fog. It was getting hard to wake up and get out of bed physically. Eventually, I ended up in the emergency room, where they told me I was severely anemic, and had severely ulcerated intestines.
On the way to the endoscopy/colonoscopy that they had to do twice because the first time my blood pressure dropped too much and they couldn't put me under:
I had to drink like 6 of these within an hour for an MRI:
After 3 nights in the emergency room followed by 3 weeks in the hospital, with uncertainty around my diagnosis, constant blood work, drinking weird liquid for scans, waiting days to get different tests done and get results back, all on a heavily restricted diet and with a plan to put me on Prednisone (a very unpleasant steroid with many side effects), doctors finally told me it was Crohns Disease: a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with no cure, which would have me live the rest of my life managing symptoms. According to them, I'd be a victim to my circumstances and just have to cope.
Yeah right. F*ck that.
Despite my lack of education around Crohns, something didn’t sit right with me, and I honestly, genuinely, just didn’t believe that I was doomed for life. To be honest, I still don't. Although I had no choice but to do what I needed to in the months following to quell my inflammation from such a dire condition, I was sure there’d be a way to heal that didn't involve pumping medication into my body and having to pay for it for life. I know deep down that the body is highly intelligent, and does not do anything without good reason. Thus, I began my natural health research, and along with it my path into exploring more holistic healing.
Very underweight with severe anemia, my first taste of real food after barely anything from the hospital:
In my solitude at the hospital, I was forced to face all the ways I had been ignoring my health. I went full tilt into prioritizing it, read books, watched youtube on food for gut health, found myself a nutritionist, delved into more spiritual and mindfulness practices, joined an online sisterhood, and began experimenting with diet. I ended up quitting my job, as I came to realize that lack of alignment and therefore stress was one of the major contributors to my gut health's decline.
Post colonoscopy:
Despite some progress physically, I hit a financial wall, not being able to pay rent AND continue the holistic treatments I was so eager to do. When one off jobs and selling my clothes/household items was no longer cutting it for rent, I decided to move back in with my parents.
Fast forward some months, I was able to save up for first and last months rent for a new place, and found a far more aligned job in Toronto. Although my part time hours supports traditional basic needs (rent, cheap groceries and cat care), the busier schedule needed to pay these have not allowed me to invest in personal healing remedies, and I have experienced once again a decline in my health. I have invested some money into life coaching to help increase self devotion, but that only goes so far.
On top of all this, my roommate and I were unexpectedly told that we'll have to be moved out of our apartment by June 1st, as our landlord has decided to move back in. So now, any savings and investment into self has been re-directed towards saving up money to pay first and last month’s rent and cover moving costs. With this comes another layer of stress on top of an already scarce situation, and I've been forced to forego my health through eating more processed foods to save money and time, just as I was doing prior to my diagnosis in the hospital. However, this time, I’m not willing to let it get that far.
In an effort to prioritize my health, I did some more research for something that could support me and help me to avoid ending up in the hospital. After some digging, I discovered S.H.I.E.L.D. by Crohn’s and Colitis Lifestyle. Founded by Dane Johnson, who himself suffered from one of the worst cases of Crohn's and Colitis I have ever seen, this program offers hope for long-term remission by identifying the root cause of the disease and shifting lifestyle and self-care practices accordingly. Every single person on their team has suffered from some type of IBD and has reversed symptoms and come back into remission through the program. EVERY. SINGLE. EMPLOYEE. They have countless testimonies of people whose fatal conditions have been reversed, who are now living the most free and abundant life they never thought be possible.
This is where I now ask humbly for your help.
TODAY:
Symptoms like bloating, pain, brain fog, fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath due to quick exhaustion and indigestion are daily norms at this point, and are only getting worse. I’ve been trying to manage my symptoms by utilizing what I've learned, doing my best to keep a symptoms journal, but these efforts are fleeting, and with the extra money needed to move, I have less time and money on my hands to prioritize it how I need to. With your generosity, I can take back control and embrace a future of abundance, health, and alignment.
If you can spare anything, no matter how small, I'd be endlessly grateful.
WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING:
This fundraiser is above all else meant to help me save up and pay for the S.H.I.E.L.D. program and heal my gut. It totals out to an estimate of $6500 CAD after the exchange rate and taxes. It covers 3 months of live health coaching, 24hr dm health support, symptom specific tests delivered to my door to identify my root cause, a personalized healing plan, proper diagnosis for why I have Crohns in the first place, supplements and discounts for life, lifelong access to educational resources that will empower me to understand my body’s needs, and a community space where I can find others with similar stories to mine.
Find more info on Dane Johnson and the S.H.I.E.L.D. program below:
Dane's Story:
https://youtu.be/ELI2fHOIKoU?si=eiTOdFOLDklQLGMW
A Crohns sufferer's testimony:
https://youtu.be/XwyWonElJ9c?si=xiLzUvdxhqY0h3UX
Website and more:
https://crohnscolitislifestyle.mykajabi.com/shieldprogram?el=website
https://crohnscolitislifestyle.com/testimonials/
The extra money not used to pay for the program would go towards helping me cover other health expenses, such as higher integrity and cleaner food that will be integral to support my healing. If there is an abundance more, I would put it towards chiropractic care for my newly diagnosed scoliosis.
CONCLUSION
Over all, my goal is plain: to reclaim my vitality, live without fear of flare-ups, and rediscover life with freedom to travel, explore, and experience life without the emotional weight and anxiety of being “sick”. With your support, I could take my life back, and live out my youth how I am meant to be living it - limitless.
I want to be a part of the proof that our bodies are magic, to empower the population to stop being victims of their illnesses, but instead stewards of their lives.
If you’d prefer an exchange of value, I offer astrology tutoring, tarot/oracle readings, and have monthly mindfulness events called BLISS that I host with my friend Katrina. More info below:
Astrology Tutoring:
$55: https://calendly.com/emilieroseguerin/astrology-tutoring-sessions
Intuitive readings:
$50: https://calendly.com/emilieroseguerin/1hrcuriouscards
$88: https://calendly.com/emilieroseguerin/curiosity-counts-creative-clarity
All my offerings:
https://calendly.com/emilieroseguerin
BLISS Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/weareonebliss/
Please send me a DM on instagram @emilieroseguerin if you'd like more info or if these options sound better to you. I’m grateful for anything and will count your payment for a any session with me towards my health savings account.
Thank you for being a part of my healing journey. Every penny truly helps.
With love and gratitude,
Émilie Rose Guerin
P.S.
There is deeply programmed shame and guilt that comes up around asking for help like this, with the mental narrative that others will need it more than me, and that I'm selfish for asking like this when such horrible things are happening around the world. But I was recently reminded that healing myself puts me in a better position to help others, and putting this out there is not a demand, but is simply an open hand and an opportunity for those who can help to do so if they choose to.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this.
Why GoFundMe Articles and URLs Appear on Our Website?
Why GoFundMe Articles and URLs Appear on Our Website and How We Support Other GoFundMe Campaigns
At LFEBridge Foundation, we are dedicated to creating a platform where individuals and organizations can maximize their fundraising efforts. As part of our commitment to supporting a wide range of causes, we incorporate articles and URLs from GoFundMe into our website. Here’s why you might see GoFundMe content on our site, how it benefits the fundraising community, and our relationship with GoFundMe:
1. Amplifying Reach for Fundraising Campaigns
Increased Visibility: By featuring GoFundMe articles and URLs on our platform, we help increase the visibility of various fundraising campaigns. This additional exposure can attract more donors and supporters, helping campaigns achieve their goals more quickly.
Cross-Promotional Opportunities: Highlighting campaigns from GoFundMe allows us to support a broader spectrum of causes and connect with a wider audience. This cross-promotion benefits both the campaign organizers and potential donors looking for causes to support.
2. Supporting Campaign Growth
Advertising and Promotion: We understand the importance of visibility in successful fundraising. By showcasing GoFundMe campaigns, we provide an advertising platform that helps these campaigns reach potential donors who might not have discovered them otherwise.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with GoFundMe and featuring their campaigns on our site strengthens the fundraising ecosystem, ensuring that worthwhile causes receive the attention and support they deserve.
3. Expanding Donor Networks
Broader Donor Base: Featuring a variety of campaigns from different platforms helps diversify and expand the donor base. This means more people can learn about and contribute to a variety of causes, ultimately driving higher engagement and donations.
Enhanced Outreach: By integrating GoFundMe content, we help campaigns tap into new networks and communities, broadening their reach and potential impact.
How We Help Other GoFundMe Campaigns Grow
1. Featured Campaigns Section
Highlighting Noteworthy Campaigns: We have a dedicated section on our website where we feature noteworthy GoFundMe campaigns. This not only gives these campaigns a spotlight but also encourages visitors to explore and contribute to them.
Rotating Features: To ensure a diverse range of campaigns get visibility, we regularly rotate the featured campaigns. This continuous update keeps the content fresh and engaging for our audience.
2. Social Media Promotion
Sharing Across Platforms: We share selected GoFundMe campaigns on our social media channels to reach a broader audience. Our followers, in turn, can share these posts, amplifying the reach even further.
Engagement Strategies: Utilizing effective engagement strategies, such as storytelling and compelling visuals, we enhance the appeal of these campaigns, driving more traffic and donations.
3. Email Newsletters
Campaign Highlights: Our email newsletters often include highlights of impactful GoFundMe campaigns. By doing so, we bring these causes directly to the inboxes of our subscribers, encouraging more people to get involved and donate.
Donor Updates: We keep our donors informed about the progress and success of the campaigns they have supported, fostering a sense of community and continued engagement.
LFEBridge Foundation's Independence
It’s important to clarify that LFEBridge Foundation is an independent entity and is not part of or affiliated with GoFundMe. While we feature and support GoFundMe campaigns on our site, we operate as a separate foundation dedicated to collecting donations for various causes, similar to GoFundMe. Many of these causes are displayed on our website to provide donors with a wide range of options to support.
Conclusion
By featuring GoFundMe articles and URLs on our website, LFEBridge Foundation supports a wide array of fundraising campaigns, helping them gain the visibility and donations they need to succeed. Through our promotional efforts and strategic partnerships, we aim to create a robust and supportive environment for all fundraising initiatives.
For more information on how we support fundraising campaigns or to explore featured campaigns, visit https://LFEBridge.com or contact us at support@lfebridge.com.
English (US) ·