Family of a teen girl, 15, living in an 'air conditioned prison' in Darwin to stop her rare and chronic illness from shutting down her body needs to move to 'cooler climate' like Melbourne - and is relying on strangers to help

The desperate family of a teenage girl who suffers from a rare chronic illness are begging for help to move her to Melbourne, with the cooler climate able to give her a better chance at a normal life.

Courtney, who currently lives in the humid city of Darwin in the Northern Territory, suffers from autonomic dysfunction orthostatic hypotension, which sees her blood pressure significantly drop when she stands up.

The 15-year-old first started showing symptoms of the disease when she fainted at the age of six and turned blue. 

Courtney suffers from autonomic dysfunction orthostatic hypotension, which sees her blood pressure significantly drop when she stands up

The 15-year-old first started showing symptoms of the disease when she fainted at the age of six and turned blue 

Each time she faints, Courtney's heart stops and she requires a defibrillator or to be injected with adrenaline to restart her heart. 

Courtney now regularly experiences lightheadedness, a troubling heart rate and palpitations as well as blood pooling in her legs, which indicates blood is not flowing to the heart. 

She is also constantly fatigued, gets cold sweats, has anxiety and panic attacks, has trouble breathing and is sensitive to noise and lights.  

Doctors are unable to find a cure for her condition no matter what concoction of medications they prescribe.

Because of her debilitating condition, Courtney said she 'lives in an air conditioned prison' just to be able to survive. 

'The hot weather up here is exacerbating her symptoms. She can't step outside of the house, she can't get to her medical appointments,' her sister Demi told NT News. 

'She can't engage in any sort of physical therapy that might help strengthen her heart. She can't even go outside and sit or walk around the block because it's just too hot.

'We feel helpless because we're watching her suffer and there's nothing anyone can do.'  

Courtney suffers from blood pooling in her legs which indicates blood is not flowing to the heart.

Doctors have suggested Courtney move to Melbourne to help manage her symptoms

Courtney is suffering from depression because she can't go outside or go to school and live a normal teenage life.  

Specialists and doctors have urged the family 'to move to a more temperate climate down south like Melbourne'. 

Friends have launched a GoFundMe page to help Courtney move to the southern city after her mother exhausted all other avenues in the form of government assistance, local organisations and charities.

Her mother is also unable to work after being diagnosed with a rare cancer, neurogenic sarcoma, in which malignant cancer cells form in the soft tissues of the body. 

'If Courtney stays in Darwin, her condition will only deteriorate and she will continue to waste away,' the fundraiser read. 

Their goal is to raise $25,000, with $7,250 already donated at the time of publication.

The teenager said she 'lives in an air conditioned prison' just to be able to survive 

Autonomic dysfunction orthostatic hypotension 

Orthostatic hypotension is a form of low blood pressure. It happens when the blood vessels do not constrict as you stand up. It is usually a symptom of an underlying disorder rather than a disease in itself. The condition is also known as postural hypotension.

Everyone is likely to experience a mild form of postural hypotension at some time. It's the lightheaded feeling you may get if you leap out of bed very quickly.

The drop in blood pressure reduces the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. 

Symptoms may include:

Causes of orthostatic hypotension 

Orthostatic hypotension usually results from an underlying disorder. It is not a disease in itself.

Some of the many causes of orthostatic hypotension include: 

 Source: Better Health Victoria

 

If they reach their goal, Courtney, her mum and her sister will be able to move to Melbourne, which could see her condition improve. 

'She will also be able to enjoy the little things again that many of us take for granted like sitting outside to enjoy some fresh air,' the GoFundMe continued. 

'Courtney will be able to attend school again and get an education. 

'She will finally be able to make some friends and live a normal life of any child her age.'