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Jazmin is featured in the Austin American-Statesman’s Season for Caring Program. Funds raised through this initiative will support Jazmin and other families served by Austin Palliative Care with essential needs like rent, utilities, and groceries. To learn more about her journey or to donate, click here
Jazmin Campbell, 21, has faced a long struggle with medical care, often feeling unheard and misunderstood. Throughout the years, she received various diagnoses as different symptoms emerged, but no one could figure out what was truly wrong. Due to the fluctuating nature of her symptoms, Jazmin often encountered skepticism from healthcare providers. Her age, gender, and being a person of color only added to the challenges.
“I look normal, but I wasn’t normal,” Jazmin explained. “They thought I was faking, that I could do more than I actually could. Some days I could walk, other days I couldn’t—it’s been like that all my life.”
Eventually, Jazmin was diagnosed with Stiff Person’s Syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder. She was under the care of Hospice Austin for seven months before her condition stabilized, and now continues her treatment with Austin Palliative Care, an affiliate of Hospice Austin for patients who have a prognosis of greater than six months or who are pursuing active treatment for their disease.
Palliative care is a medical specialty focused on easing the symptoms and stresses of serious illness to improve the quality of life, based on the patient’s and family’s goals. Austin Palliative Care aims to help patients like Jazmin regain their ability to pursue their personal goals and enhance their quality of life.
Jazmin has many aspirations, and she’s making great progress toward achieving them. Jazmin’s goal is to become a nurse practitioner; she is taking classes at a local school. She has also written and published a memoir together with Last Writers, a nonprofit that pairs college students with patients to document their life stories.
If you would like to help out Jazmin you do so through this Amazon wishlist, or call 512-397-3360, option 3,