Celebrity Illness: Based On Real Life, “The Big Sick” and No Diagnosis
People who are ill and are dealing with no diagnosis for themselves or a loved one, know how terrifying it can be to have medical professionals working toward a solution, yet being unable to diagnose or treat the problem.
No Diagnosis Threatens Life
Recently, this tale was brought to life in the autobiographical rom-com The Big Sick, based on the real life love story of comedian Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon. Written by the pair, it chronicles the story of how the interracial couple struggled to stay together, only to find Emily in an induced coma after a mystery illness threatens her life.
Emily’s parents are played by Ray Romano and Holly Hunter, who fly in to Chicago from North Carolina when they hear the news about their daughter. They are met by a whole team of doctors and specialists, each one working from a different angle of their daughter’s care. Despite their efforts, none are quite certain what’s causing the infection raging through her body.
No Diagnosis Patients Can Relate To This Movie
Family, friends, and patients with a hard to diagnose or “no diagnosis” status can relate to the feelings Emily’s loved ones go through in the film - the unknown medical jargon and the uncertainty about the effectiveness of treatment. Emily’s father fumbles with the spelling of the various medical terms and her mother frantically searches the internet for possible causes and treatments.
The film underscores the emotional traumas of searching for a diagnosis with a touch of comedic moments. It showcases how often medical professionals struggle to find answers and the process of elimination in discovering the underlying issue.
The real life Emily (Gordon) was eventually diagnosed with Still’s disease, a rare type of inflammatory arthritis often accompanied by the symptoms of fevers, rash, joint pain, sore throat, and muscle pain.
Many Experience Recurrence Of Symptoms
Some with Still’s just experience an isolated occurrence of symptoms. But, like Gordon, many experience a recurrence of symptoms. In an interview, Gordon and her husband talked about how they manage flare ups by preparing and planning around travel and knowing she needs recuperation time:
“It’s fevers — it’s a very intense, kind of just awful feeling,” she says about the symptoms of Still’s. “And if I don’t stop everything I’m doing, then I can get much more sick. So, if it’s more then I just have to kind of stop and let it leave.”
What the film illustrates, and many experience in real life, is how a no-diagnosis with a flurry of various medical professionals can be daunting not just for those suffering, but also for friends and family. Share Lawyers understands how working towards a diagnosis takes a community, and if you or your loved one are being denied the benefits you need due to an undiagnosed condition we are here to help.
Has your long-term disability claim been denied? Contact Share Lawyers and put our experience to work for you. We have recently settled cases against Standard Life, Desjardins, Manulife, RBC Insurance, Sun Life, and much more. We offer free consultations and there are no fees unless we win your case. Find out if you have a disability case.
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A note from our long term disability lawyers
Taking a medical leave from work is not an easy decision to make. Concerns about providing for yourself and your family and keeping your job may cause you to want to push through your pain, but this won’t make your problems go away. Stopping work is often the smartest decision for your long term health and well-being, and your disability benefits are there to provide you with financial support until you can return to work.
If you have made the tough decision to stop working and apply for your short term disability or long term disability benefits, you may feel overwhelmed by the process and have questions that your employer and your insurance company are not able or willing to answer. Share is There to see you through and answer your questions.
Our Disability law firm knows what you have been going through
We understand that things have not been easy for you over the last little while. Your health has been suffering, you are unable to work, and now your insurance company, who was supposed to be there in your time of need, has decided they will not pay your disability benefits or respect your disability claim. These benefits exist to provide you with the financial support you need so that you can focus on your health and rebuilding your life. It is unfortunate that your insurance company has not lived up to its promise. If your disability claim has been denied, we will fight to get you the benefits you are entitled to. Our disability lawyers have helped thousands of Canadians get their long term disability benefits over the past 35 years, and we can help you too.
Our experienced disability lawyers can fight back on your behalf
Share Lawyers believes that every client who is dealing with a disability claim deserves superior personal service. To achieve that goal, we have developed our team of experienced, compassionate, and caring long term disability lawyers, law clerks, and administrative staff to meet all of your needs. Our team of experienced long term disability, life insurance, employment, and critical illness insurance lawyers have made successful claims against many insurance companies, third-party administrators and employers.
If you are unable to work, your disability benefits should be there to provide you with the financial support you need. While your insurance company may be focused on finding ways to avoid paying your claim, our focus is on what is in your best interest. When Share Lawyers gets involved, you have an entire team of lawyers that are there to support you and to fight for what is yours.
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In this video, we explain the role of a long term disability lawyer and how we can support you when you have been denied your long term disability benefits.