I had been a fan of Jaquie since I had found her youtube channel on accident a long while ago. However, I had lost interest sometime last year and was sad that she had passed. Although, as one who also suffers from a lot of medical conditions I feel it's very sad that everyone is putting her down for what she might have gone through whether she really was suffering from these illnesses or not. We don't know how much was real whether it was a little bit or a lot or all of it no one will truly know unless someone who personally knows her decides to bring everything to light in the future, but I highly doubt it.
Yes, it is true there are people out there who thrive on attention and they believe the only way they can get it is through creating fake medical issues to fool friends, family, and even doctors, which is sad because as someone who is actually sick a lot I can't even fathom anyone who would want to fake illnesses and get unnecessary procedures, constantly be pumped with pills, having to stay on constant schedules, not being able to do things you want to do, etc. I personally sometimes have to fight my family on going to the doctor or emergency, because no matter how sick I become, I know when I can deal with it on my own and when I can't, because I don't want to take up an appointment or bed that could be used by someone else who is in a more dire condition, or be pumped with pills, I hate pills and always having to be on a damn schedule all the time, never being free to do what I want, what and when I want to eat, etc, not being able to be independent or have a job, it's terrible, especially when all I have ever wanted since I was a small child was to be normal like everyone else. Many who are in the same boat as me would agree. Most of us don't give a shit about being in the limelight or putting ourselves out there, most of us just want to feel normal once in a while, but that does not mean there are those who feel driven to share their stories to inspire others and help feel others not feel so alone.
However, no one but Jaquie truly knows the full truth whether it was all true or not and everyone can only theorize and don't see a point in bashing a dead woman who most likely severely suffered before she died. So whether or not she faked anything for attention, she stood for was severely important. Bringing awareness to those who are chronically ill. Bringing hope to those are always constantly ill or even being inspiring to many. She even would bring awareness to many different illnesses people didn't know about (that are real) to light.
However, after reading this thread there is always the possibility. Anyone ever see that movie and interviews about Gypsy Rose? Her mother thrived on attention and the only way she could get this attention and get free things would be to convince her daughter that she was sick from when she was a young child (fooling many doctors and even Gypsy's own father), and add things to her list of illnesses every year, but Gypsy was never sick and only fully realized this when she got older that none of her conditions were real, subjecting her to opioids, other unneeded medications, unneeded procedures and surgeries, being forced to live in a wheelchair when she could actually walk, etc. It's horrible. Or the story about the woman who bought herself a wheelchair so that she could live her fantasy as a disabled person, even trying to make doctors amputate her legs to make her fantasy real. It's sad when people have these mental issues toward medicine and health.
These kinds of situations where people crave attention this way give a bad name for those who really are chronically sick from one or multiple conditions. For ones who are always in pain or unwell or have to go to the doctor/emergency/hospitals all the time. Don't bash unless you know the full truth. This makes those who are ill all the time or have multiple medical conditions look bad or look like they're faking. No one should be going "oh this person faked it or that person faked it, so everyone is faking it for attention and being chronically ill isn't real".
Just be kind and have some empathy, and don't let this thread make you put down every person who might be chronically ill. I can understand being suspicious or doubtful, but have some humanity and empathy and kindness to everyone including those who claim to be chronically ill just as Jaquie had. If she was truly chronically ill with everything or even some of the things she claimed to have, at least she is no longer suffering. If she did make it all up for attention then she had a mental issue and is now no longer burdened by her mental issue or having to keep face and is at peace.
In my personal opinion, even as a chronically ill person, the chronically ill commuminity has two sides to it. I believe that there are some real people who do youtube to raise awareness for chronic illness because not everyone understands and it can help people understand what they go through and maybe even help doctors diagnose other people who suffer with similar symptoms and could not be diagnosed before. Some people just happen to be more public than others or have that drive to put their message out there, just like normal people who are always putting themselves out there because it's just who they are. However, I also believe that there is the other side where people decide to jump the bandwagon because these people get a lot of views, attention, love, etc., that they wouldn't get anywhere else. I believe everyone should give everyone in these kinds of situations the benefit of the doubt before they can find real proof that it's fake or not.
I just wanted to post this not on behalf of Jaquie or her family, but on behalf for those like me who actually are chronically ill and bring awareness that not everyone is a faker and to not judge until you know the whole truth.
Be kind to everyone, you never know what someone may be truly going through, physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. Treat others like you would want to be treated if you were in a similar situation.
Spread love, kindness, and understanding ~♥
