AT 29 years old, peninsula local Kaitlyn (Kaitie) Mester is facing a future she never imagined after being diagnosed with a series of chronic illnesses.
Kaitie had established a successful career in freight management and was preparing to step into a leadership role.
Now, she spends much of her time confined to bed and relies on family and friends to help complete daily tasks.
After nearly two decades of her health declining, Kaitie was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, POTS/autonomic dysfunction and severe gastrointestinal disease.
She wants more Australians to understand the struggles of living with a chronic illness and the challenges faced by those who fall into what she calls the “middle ground”; not healthy, but not living with a widely recognised or visible disease.
“There are many Australians that are living with chronic illnesses that won’t necessarily kill them, but have changed their life, and they’re profoundly disabled, and the NDIS won’t recognise a lot of these things,” said Mester.
While living in Canada in 2022, Mester’s condition worsened significantly. When she returned home to continue treatment, the doctors discovered a hernia and severe ulceration of her oesophagus.
She had major surgery in November 2025, something she hoped would restore her health.
Instead, there were complications and her condition worsened. After investigations, they found an underlying connective tissue disorder that affects nearly every system in her body.
Her syndrome worsens with age, and at 29, she said she already struggles daily.
“There’s no cure; all they can do is manage it,” said Mester.
“I take 23 pills a day, I have appointments almost every day, I have six specialists and my life has completely changed.”
Mester now lives with chronic pain, fatigue, heart rate instability, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and nutritional complications that make eating and drinking difficult.
Everyday tasks such as walking the dog or grocery shopping leave Mester exhausted.
“People just don’t understand when you explain to them these illnesses,” said Mester.
“They’re like ‘Oh, so you get joint pain, you have GI issues, I get IBS, I get this,’ and you’re like, no, I’ve literally been in bed for two weeks, I haven’t gotten out of bed.”
Recently, Mester was accepted into an intensive pain rehabilitation program which could significantly improve her quality of life.
The treatment comes at a significant cost, and Mester decided to start a fundraising campaign after being quoted over $10,000 for just one week of infusion therapy.
“It’s very hard for me to ask, and I should have asked for help a long time ago, but I haven’t, because I know we’re all struggling, all Australians,” said Mester.
“But to anyone that can help me, and that relates to my story, I just thank you from the bottom of my heart, and just please know that it’s going to go towards my quality of life.”
Mester is going to continue fighting and wants to keep spreading her story to help raise awareness and increase visibility for chronic illnesses.
“I have multiple surgeries and just a tough life ahead, but I don’t want to give up,” said Mester.
“I’m scared about what’s going to happen in the next 10 or 20 years, but all I can do is lean on community and friends and family and say, ‘Hey, I’m going through this; a lot of people are. Let’s speak up’.”
“There can’t just be no cure. There has to be treatments and options out there available.”
You can help support Mester on her journey and learn more here: gofund.me/af29de057.
First published in the Mornington News – 7 July 2026
