Cailin Joyce died after suffering a rare blood disorder that “left her immune system compromised”
NEED TO KNOW
- A beloved Ohio State student died after developing a rare blood disorder caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus
- Cailin Joyce died on Dec. 4 after a lengthy hospital stay, when she took a “sudden and significant turn for the worse”
- The Epstein-Barr virus generally doesn’t cause symptoms, but in rare cases, it can progress to serious illness
A 19-year-old college student has died after developing a rare blood disorder caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Ohio State student Cailin Joyce first became sick in the beginning of the school year: “It absolutely broke my heart to see her suffer to the extent that she has been,” wrote a friend in a GoFundMe established to help support the family — particularly her mother, Terese, who had to take time off work to stay with her daughter in the hospital.
As the fundraiser explained, Joyce had been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder, which “left her immune system compromised, her organs with extreme inflammation resulting in her body retaining a ton of fluid.” The once active teen — she was a member of the Ohio State Club Dance Team and active in her parish’s youth ministry program — was left bedridden due to the illness.
“Cailin has been contained to 4 tiny walls in a hospital room for many weeks now as doctors try to understand more about her rare condition. This has come with daily blood draws, blood transfusions, bone marrow tests and so many more treatments that I can’t even remember the names of,” the GoFundMe explained…