Post-Transfusion

(Source: 80000hours.org)

There were many more hospital visits that followed, complete with blood transfusions and scary moments. Often she was sure she would not make it. Every six months, she was near-death, requiring transfusions to survive. Because ulcerative colitis impedes nutrient absorption, she would struggle to keep down food, losing up 20-25 pounds in as few as four weeks. These weight loss episodes would lead to arthritic-type pain, which meant more medication, more doctors, and a deeper spiral down.