Long Island Woman Battling Illnesses Asks For Help; Fundraiser Made

FARMINGDALE, NY — A Farmingdale woman who had been hospitalized while battling several illnesses needs a feeding pump and feeding bags. Her friends created a fundraiser to help her out so she can recover in her own home.

Erica Falco, 28, is fighting endometriosis, Sjögren's, dysautonomia, mitochondrial disease, asthma, food allergies, mast cell activation syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos, IBD (left-sided colitis), and pelvic floor dysfunction.

She said her chronic illnesses began toward the end of college after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. Gastroparesis was confirmed through a gastric emptying study during a long hospitalization in two different hospitals from Jan 27 until March 20. She had a peg-J tube placed.

Her friends, Meghan Cullen and Camille Law, created a GoFundMe for Falco. It is at nearly half of its $2,000 goal as of Monday afternoon. People may donate to Falco's fundraiser here.

A GoFundMe spokeswoman verified the fundraiser.

Falco on Tuesday said the pump costs $600 out of pocket and each individual bag is $4.99.

"To put it in perspective, that's $50 for 10 [bags]," she said. I can only use one bag per day for sanitary reasons."

Falco said there is no end date on the fundraiser and is keeping it open so "people can freely donate." She said she will have a feeding tube for the "foreseeable future."

Cullen, on the fundraiser, said the feeding tube will help Falco live a better life and hopefully start to heal her.

"Unfortunately, Erica is limited to Medicaid, and Medicaid is refusing to pay for the necessary medical supplies in order for her to use her feeding tube to receive adequate nutrition," Cullen wrote. "We are hoping to raise money so we can get her this equipment. The equipment she needs in order to properly run her feeds are a feeding pump and feeding bags. They can be pricey out of pocket, and she needs to get nutrition as soon as possible as she has not been getting any for months and months now ... She has been through so much, and we just want to take this extra burden off her so she can continue living."

Falco said it has been "very hard to remain positive" and that she has been failed by medical professionals multiple times.

"[They] say you don’t need something and make you go months and years without something you need, such as my feeding tube," she said. "It’s hard to hold onto hope, but I’m grateful to my faith and my church community who’s helped me stay positive. God is my strength in this."

While remaining hopeful has been a challenge, she urged others to "never lose hope!"

"I’ve had a lot of medical professionals fail me and misdiagnose me with all sort of things," she said in an email. "Know that your symptoms are real and it’s your body! You know your body best! There is always someone out there to lend a hand and diagnose properly, so even if it takes awhile, know that you will get there!"

Falco will turn 29 on May 12.

She asked people to donate or share the GoFundMe with family and friends.

"Any little bit helps! My insurance is denying me a pump and bags to go with the pump and it’s the sole way I can run my feeds at home," she said.