Hailee The Mito Warrior

ENERGY IN ACTION - EPISODE 091 Hailee The Mito Warrior Hailee is the Ultimate Mito Warrior. She has such a positive attitude, despite the challenges she experiences on a daily basis. She works to create awareness of her mitochondrial disease, and secondary conditions she endures through her videos on YouTube. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Can you share about your particular mitochondrial disease and your diagnosis journey? I have a disease that's only known to affect me and my mom. I was diagnosed when I was 5 years old. For the first five years of my life, I experienced cyclic vomiting syndrome and I was in and out of the hospital. I also experienced developmental delays and low energy. My parents saw a talk by a doctor who linked cyclic vomiting syndrome to some mitochondrial patients and we scheduled an appointment with him based on other similarities of the disease that I was experiencing. Through muscle biopsy, I was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease and started receiving the mito cocktail and also medication for the cyclic vomiting syndrome. A couple years later, I also did genetic testing which provided more insight. Who is Hailee outside of your disease and medical challenges? I really enjoy photography and I find it to be fun and therapeutic. I also love escaping to another world through reading and my dog Willow. I enjoy hanging out with friends and family and traveling whenever I'm able. Something that's been healing for me has been working on my YouTube channel where I share all about my life with mito. What are your goals for your YouTube channel? I vlog my day, even if they are mundane. I share in detail about my illnesses and struggles. I also share about my mental health. I started my channel back at a time when I felt very isolated and now my goal is to use it as a resource for others. I hope my videos help people feel less alone and I hope my videos serve as a source of learning. What are your goals for the future? I've been in a state of waiting for something to happen medically, taking things one day at a time, but my health is stable right now. I am working on shifting my mindset from day-by-day to the future. One of my goals is to continue to share my story beyond my YouTube channel at speaking engagements and schools to spread awareness. I also hope, if my health permits, that I become a mom one day. FOLLOW HAILEE YouTube https://www.youtube.com/themitowarrior Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themitowarrior/ CONNECT WITH MITOACTION Website https://www.mitoaction.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mitoaction Twitter https://twitter.com/mitoaction