We accepted that I was never going to get donations,
I was never going to get to America and I'm going to suffer
for the rest of however long my life will be.
To be on Struggle Street changed our life.
We were just like, “What?! No way! This can't be happening. Surely not.”
Oh my darling.
The kindness of strangers was so amazing.
We haven’t come all this way for nothing.
-I know that. -I know you know that.
Like Jessica said. I’m entitled to live a life too. Just as much as you are.
In Melbourne's outer north, single mum, Michelle and daughter Jess are facing a battle for survival.
Literally your whole skeleton feels like knives stabbing into you.
21-year-old Jess suffers from an incredibly rare disease called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Type 6.
All my collagen is faulty.
Without collagen you fall apart.
The other day I was washing my hair and three times my shoulder dislocated
and I had to call out to mum to help me put it back in.
My GP is like ‘I want to help you, but there is no help here’.
The specialist treatment she needs is 17,000 kilometres away in Baltimore, in the US.
This is why we've got the GoFundMe.
We've raised $140 in two months from six people, which is good. It's a good start.
We just- we need to get there
get there a bit more.
Her life span isn't very long and we're looking at a prepaid funeral now.
The thought of losing her is just...
it's unbearable, you know?
We were looking at the TV, just basically judging ourselves, putting ourselves down 'cause
well we're not good with self esteem.
We had a person contact us and say “have you seen Jessica's GoFundMe?” and I said “no, what for?"
I turned on my computer and every like three seconds the page was just automatically refreshing.
And I was like,
"No, no, no, no. This can't be happening."
I was like, what?!
We literally watched it rise and rise and rise and rise and rise.
We're like, “is this ever going to stop?!”
I’ve never had this type of support ever.
So the reality is now I can get to America, now I can get treatment.
Who is Doctor Henderson?
He's the neurosurgeon.
Oh...
It’s almost like a second chance at life.
Without the kindness of strangers, I love that saying.
'The kindness of strangers,' well I can't do it how they did it in the movie.
It's just like wow, I didn’t think so many people would care.
I wish I could go out and hug them all and say
"Come on, group hug!"
You don’t need this much clothes for carry on.
I’ve never been overseas in my life.
-I'm taking my coat. -You don't need it
I'm taking it.
I've got a hat.
You don't need hat.
They call us, coming from overseas, it sounded really odd.
We say you're the overseas people.
Baltimore, Maryland. That's where we'll be.
A whole ‘nother world it’s going to be for us.
Walmart, I have to check out Walmart.
I have to pack a lot of medication.
Since the filming of Struggle Street my back has got very much worse.
I have a very very low immune system and that's why I wear a mask.
She was in intensive care for 3 days.
I prayed for her to live, I prayed for her to die.
Because I didn’t want to see her like this anymore, you know.
I know that sounds probably awful but it was one of the hardest times of my life.
The doctors here refuse to even believe she was sick and said that it was all in her head.
I can't comprehend why these doctors won't listen.
It’s really sad that you have to go to another country
to get help when you should be able to get help in your own country.
Alrighty, big day today Jess.
Gonna miss you.
Let's go Jess.
How exciting.
They don't know what they're in for when we get there, I tell ya.
And Jessica, I got my coat.
And my hat.
Come on, don't worry.
Doctor Henderson is gonna have the answers, okay?
What if he doesn't?
Well I reckon he's going to.
Alright?
Be positive.
You've come all this way.
You're gonna get the answers, I promise you.
Hi.
How are you feeling?
Not great.
Does this right shoulder always sag a bit?
Yeah.
Okay, woah.
That hurt?
Yeah.
Your shoulders?
Yeah.
The skull has slipped forward on the spine there.
So that means there’s probably pressure on the front of the brain stem right here.
So that would mean surgery then?
She has a profound connective tissue problem
that affects every part of her spine, every joint, and as well many of her internal organs.
Surprisingly, however, she’s quite cheerful.
I'm going to put on the front portion.
We have definitely got answers now.
I'm not saying I'm happy about these answers but I am relieved that I found out what’s causing my problems.
I’m feeling very overwhelmed, confused knowing we have all this other stuff that she needs to get done.
Don’t worry Ma, it’ll all be ok.
If I’m down, she’ll push me back up.
And vice versa.
Only six dollars, like how cheap is that?
So when I give you the medicine, I'll put this on.
How funny is that?
My mum is everything to me.
She's my best friend, what can I say?
Once I get more medically under control I’m hoping I can continue making awareness,
not just for rare diseases but for disabilities.
She had recently done a speech about her disease in front of 115 people.
It takes a lot of strength to put your hand up and say I need help.
The one thing I have learnt is never, never give up.
She had a standing ovation.
I couldn’t believe it, you know.
I was so proud.