>>52906625Ironmouse doesn't have AIDs, but what she does have has similar symptoms. Ironmouse has CVID. It's a genetic condition, her DNA has an error that causes it.
In basic terms, the normal human immune system works in two parts: antibodies attach to things that shouldn't be there, tagging them as needing to be destroyed. White blood cells detect these tags and eat whatever they're attached to. Ironmouse's DNA error causes her to not produce the tags. Thus, her white blood cells pass by infections, not knowing to eat them.
Ironmouse receives plasma donations from healthy people to work around this issue. The plasma contains the tags produced by other people. With those in her system, her white blood cells get to work and eat the bad stuff.
Ironmouse's other health problems were caused by infections that were able to get out of control. Damage caused by a massive lung infection severely hampered her ability to absorb oxygen from the air she breathes. She can still breathe in the air itself, though, as her diaphram was not affected. This is how she's still able to sing.
Ironmouse's digestive system was also impacted, and she has trouble digesting a lot of foods. This, combined with her breathing problems and long hospital stays left her with very little energy and abiltiy to walk around. As a result, her muscles weakened from disuse, to the point where she couldn't walk. She's slowly regaining muscle mass.
Some other points:
- Many people in this thread have said she has an autoimmune condition. That's not true. Autoimmune is when your immune system is TOO active, attacking the stuff it shouldn't. Ironmouse's condition is an immune deficiency.
- CVID is typically adult-onset, not presenting symptoms until adulthood. Ironmouse did stuff in her early years that she wouldn't be able to do now. It's not an inconsistency.
- Ironmouse is not a "bubble girl". While she has to be extra careful about infection and generally stays indoors, she's not confined to a sterile environment. She often gets sick, but that's what the plasma is for.
- ironmouse isn't dying, and she's never claimed to be dying. She just has a shitty time living. She condidtion is chronic, not terminal.
