Count the Cost: A ME/CFS Documentary
Auburn, Alabama | Film Feature
Documentary, Biography
With the rise of long-covid, Dr. Reddy’s unique story of self-advocacy, persistence, and hope is urgently relevant now. It shines a powerful light on the daily realities faced by millions worldwide, and this film will bring to life the vital message for a blueprint for change and understanding.
Count the Cost: A ME/CFS Documentary
Auburn, Alabama | Film Feature
Documentary, Biography
1 Campaigns | Arizona, United States
19 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$4,841
Goal: $10,000 for production
With the rise of long-covid, Dr. Reddy’s unique story of self-advocacy, persistence, and hope is urgently relevant now. It shines a powerful light on the daily realities faced by millions worldwide, and this film will bring to life the vital message for a blueprint for change and understanding.
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
For quite some time now, Dr. Sujana Reddy has felt as though she’s been isolated in a tower. Living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) makes it incredibly difficult to go outside or participate in everyday life. Even simple activities—such as taking a shower, meeting a friend, or driving to work—can be overwhelming and exhausting. Sleep offers little relief, as rest does not restore her energy.
This film intimately follows Dr. Reddy’s extraordinary journey—from being a frontline healthcare doctor to quiet moments of self-care, seeking treatments for her survival, and her fierce advocacy via social media. She knows firsthand the frustration of being dismissed, the struggle to find answers, and the courage it takes to keep going when every day feels impossible. Yet, she channels her experiences into advocacy, empathy, and hope-not just for herself, but for millions living with invisible illnesses. Through her eyes, you’ll witness the challenges and triumphs of living with invisible illness and the power of compassion in medicine.
Imagery by Lisa Maria Lara
Imagine dedicating your entire life to healing others while fighting every day to survive. This is the reality for Dr. Sujana Reddy. A compassionate physician whose own body is her greatest enemy and challenge. Dr. Reddy’s life is a testament to resilience, where she breaks the glass ceiling in multiple ways (not just as a physician and chronic illness advocate) but also as an Asian American woman growing up in the deep South. As a physician living with ME/CFS, EDS, POTS, MCAS, and long-covid, she faces daily battles most of us never see. Yet, she’s determined to complete her dreams, become a board-certified Internal Medicine doctor, and transform her struggles into hope for others.
Here Dr.Sujana Reddy wears braces and PPE gear for work.
Raised and educated in Alabama, Dr. Reddy navigated environments where Asian-Americans women are often underrepresented and sometimes rendered invisible, facing unique discrimination challenges in spaces. She now lives in Auburn, Alabama.
Her journey required not only persistence in overcoming health obstacles but also the strength to carve out her identity and voice in a place where her experiences were rarely reflected in the community around her. This intersection of cultural identity and chronic illness has profoundly shaped Dr. Reddy’s empathy, advocacy, and commitment to uplifting others who feel unseen. Her story stands as an inspiration for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, showing that resilience is built not just in overcoming illness but in embracing every part of who you are and using it to make a difference.
This film brings Dr. Reddy’s story to life, offering a rare glimpse into the world of chronic illness from both sides of the stethoscope. Through intimate interviews, candid moments, and her own words, you’ll witness the highs and lows of her path to becoming a board-certified internal medicine physician. You’ll see her fight for her patients, her community, and herself-proving that even in the face of adversity, one person’s determination can spark change.
JOIN US IN A MOVEMENT OF CHANGE
Our goal is to get 500 followers for this campaign to activate a chain reaction of hope and healing. If you follow for updates and then share our image below, YOU can help bring stardust to a dark land. Let's stop letting the United States government tell us what is essential. This film inspires hope for change in our medical system in the United States and around the world. Millions are missing from their lives, work, family, friends, and the beautiful world around them. We need your help to show others that there's a way forward to break free.
Will you join us?
Use hashtags
#CountTheCost
#LightForMECFS
#RisingThroughME
Please TAG US if you do!
SHARE THIS CAMPAIGN ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
GET GENEROUS!
Contribute to the campaign to help us finish the film. The rewards are amazing ----->
Follow the Team on Social Media
Jen Kain: Director/Editor
https://www.instagram.com/sunnysideup1531/
Good Stuff Films (producing company)
https://www.instagram.com/good_stuff_films
Dr.Sujana Reddy: Documentary Subject and Story Producer
https://www.instagram.com/sujanareddy
Composer: Elizabeth (Ella) Becker
https://www.instagram.com/elizabeth.becker/
Producer: Matthew Jones
https://www.instagram.com/o_fantasma_
When I was working on my last documentary, I met Dr. Sujana Reddy in early 2023 and knew from the moment I met her that she was special. She has an incredible way of drawing you in and inspiring hope for a better tomorrow. A year later, I interviewed Dr. Reddy with the hope of possibly featuring her in my final documentary about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, but I felt her story was too important and needed to be its own thing. So, when I found out that her last hurdle in becoming a doctor was passing her board exams, I knew I had the story. We are remarkably similar in many ways, and we've developed an incredible friendship. I want to tell my friend's story because the world needs to hear it. Dr. Sujana Reddy is a person with ambition, life, and goals despite having a debilitating illness. I hope that she passes her test and that she helps others as a doctor. She is the doctor who listens, cares, and goes above and beyond. Everyone needs to know there's a doctor out there who cares about you and your story. Often, when people who have complex conditions go to a doctor, they are dismissed and not believed and not treated for the conditions they have. It's about time we have doctors like Dr.Sujana Reddy out there to be heard and seen. I'm making this documentary because I want others to know they're not alone. We are fighting and advocating on behalf of everyone who has ME/CFS.
-Director Jen Kain
Our Timeline
June-August: Production and assembly edit
August-December: Post Production
Jan-Feb: Final export and delivery of film
Film Website
https://www.goodstuff-story.co/count-the-cost
Join the Newsletter for Updates
https://count0the0cost.substack.com/
Stretch Goals
- Fund additional plane tickets to get our incredible producer to film the second shoot in August. He's a cinematographer by trade, but he's acting in a producing capacity. ($2500)
- Publicity is important especially if this film can get Oscar qualified. The plan at the moment is to not submit this to festivals but if additional stretch goals of (5k) can get raised then it will go to submitting to film festivals and marketing.
AAPI Renaissance Rally
- Our team has also entered into a grant competition. Share this page with your friends. We need more stories out there that represent true authentic lives of Asian Americans. By joining our team you are helping us create real change in the film industry.
- About 2/3 of Asian representation in mainstream film and television are still "knowledge" or "martial arts" roles. To combat monolithic and stereotypical narratives, Seed&Spark is partnering with Gold House for its first AAPI Renaissance rally to drive awareness and funding for projects that lead with multidimensional or unexpected Asian and Pacific Islander characters. (From the rally section of Seed&Spark)
- https://seedandspark.com/aapi-renaissance-rally
Kinema Screenings
Kinema is an independent filmmaker's dream. Films have life through Kinema's online distribution platform, which offers rental, purchase, and in-person screenings, as well as interactive live streaming events. Seed & Spark has partnered with Kinema.
https://kinema.com/filmmakers
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! WITHOUT YOU, NOTHING WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Hire a senior 2d after effects animator
Costs $3,000
This tells the story of Sujana stuck in a tower and over the course of the film she becomes free - This is going to be 2d animated
Travel Expenses
Costs $2,500
Car rental, flights to the location of the film. Goal is to go to Alabama in Summer and Fall to see Sujana take her test the week it happens
Mid-Senior Graphic Designer
Costs $1,000
This person tells the story visually. From posters, to key art and social media pieces
Share this update!
About This Team
Dr. Sujana Reddy, DO, Story Producer: Dr. Sujana Reddy is an Internal Medicine physician based in Alabama whose personal journey with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Long-Covid, and related chronic illnesses has profoundly shaped her approach to medicine and patient care. Diagnosed with EDS at 28, Dr. Reddy’s persistence and self-advocacy led to her own diagnosis, fueling her passion for empowering patients facing these often invisible conditions. Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Reddy is a leader in patient advocacy, serving as Vice President and Medical Board Leader for Awareness for POTSies, being named Changemaker of the Year 2024 for Crisis Text line, and contributing to national conversations at both the state and federal levels. Her insights have also been featured in major publications like National Geographic, Science, and Women's Health Magazine. Dr. Reddy's commitment to raising awareness and driving systemic change in healthcare extends the impact of her story well beyond her own corner of the world.
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Jennifer Kain, Film Director and Editor: Award-winning filmmaker Jen Kain is no stranger to storytelling. With over a decade of experience in Hollywood, she’s worked on everything from major blockbusters to powerful indie documentaries. But in 2021, her world shifted when she was diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS)—a complex genetic condition that affects the body’s connective tissues. Not long after, she developed Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a life-altering condition that often accompanies hEDS. Rather than step away from filmmaking, Jen turned the camera toward her community. Her second feature-length documentary, Exhausted Existence: An EDS Story, gave voice to others living with EDS, highlighting not only the struggles but also the strength it takes to live and thrive with an invisible illness. During her research, Jen met Dr. Sujana Reddy, a relentless advocate and medical professional dedicated to raising awareness about ME/CFS and Long-Covid. Dr. Reddy’s story struck a deep chord. Even while producing Exhausted Existence, Jen knew this was a film she had to make. Her third feature-length documentary centers on Dr. Reddy’s mission—and it couldn’t come at a more urgent time. With millions affected by Long-Covid and ME/CFS, awareness, research, and advocacy are more critical than ever. Jen Kain is ready to shine a light on the truth—and this time, it's personal.
ELIZABETH BECKER is a composer, arranger, orchestrator, and vocalist: Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Her musical journey began at a young age, finding a love for singing musical theater and classical repertoire. This grew into learning more instruments. After learning piano, she began writing original compositions and found a passion for scoring to media. Since then, she attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts studying film and media scoring and contemporary writing and production. After graduating in August of 2023, BECKER left for Los Angeles to begin her professional career. Soon after, she landed at Bleeding Fingers Music as a technical score assistant for BBC’s “Asia”. This led her into freelancing as an assistant, and currently working as a composer on multiple projects. Her most recent work includes making music for the video game “Colossal Kickoff”, which is now available on Steam. This high energy soccer game includes intense punk-rock orchestral music. With a commitment to her composing craft, ELIZABETH BECKER hopes to share music that helps and inspires others like music has done for her.
Matthew Jones is a cinematographer and producer. For production, he has crafted corporate, documentary, commercial and narrative work for over fifteen years as a cinematographer and editor. Matthew’s love for art, photography and motion picture creation works well with his environment, as he is fortunate to have access to the vast spaces of the Arizona desert in his backyard.
Samantha Boubel is our production assistant on the film. She is also an up-and-coming actress and director with a passion for storytelling. She founded Boubel Productions and is eager to bring her vision to life. Her recent short film, Fragile, is a gripping dark drama. Samantha is dedicated to creating films that tackle critical global issues. She wants to help people by making inspirational movies.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
For quite some time now, Dr. Sujana Reddy has felt as though she’s been isolated in a tower. Living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) makes it incredibly difficult to go outside or participate in everyday life. Even simple activities—such as taking a shower, meeting a friend, or driving to work—can be overwhelming and exhausting. Sleep offers little relief, as rest does not restore her energy.
This film intimately follows Dr. Reddy’s extraordinary journey—from being a frontline healthcare doctor to quiet moments of self-care, seeking treatments for her survival, and her fierce advocacy via social media. She knows firsthand the frustration of being dismissed, the struggle to find answers, and the courage it takes to keep going when every day feels impossible. Yet, she channels her experiences into advocacy, empathy, and hope-not just for herself, but for millions living with invisible illnesses. Through her eyes, you’ll witness the challenges and triumphs of living with invisible illness and the power of compassion in medicine.
Imagery by Lisa Maria Lara
Imagine dedicating your entire life to healing others while fighting every day to survive. This is the reality for Dr. Sujana Reddy. A compassionate physician whose own body is her greatest enemy and challenge. Dr. Reddy’s life is a testament to resilience, where she breaks the glass ceiling in multiple ways (not just as a physician and chronic illness advocate) but also as an Asian American woman growing up in the deep South. As a physician living with ME/CFS, EDS, POTS, MCAS, and long-covid, she faces daily battles most of us never see. Yet, she’s determined to complete her dreams, become a board-certified Internal Medicine doctor, and transform her struggles into hope for others.
Here Dr.Sujana Reddy wears braces and PPE gear for work.
Raised and educated in Alabama, Dr. Reddy navigated environments where Asian-Americans women are often underrepresented and sometimes rendered invisible, facing unique discrimination challenges in spaces. She now lives in Auburn, Alabama.
Her journey required not only persistence in overcoming health obstacles but also the strength to carve out her identity and voice in a place where her experiences were rarely reflected in the community around her. This intersection of cultural identity and chronic illness has profoundly shaped Dr. Reddy’s empathy, advocacy, and commitment to uplifting others who feel unseen. Her story stands as an inspiration for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, showing that resilience is built not just in overcoming illness but in embracing every part of who you are and using it to make a difference.
This film brings Dr. Reddy’s story to life, offering a rare glimpse into the world of chronic illness from both sides of the stethoscope. Through intimate interviews, candid moments, and her own words, you’ll witness the highs and lows of her path to becoming a board-certified internal medicine physician. You’ll see her fight for her patients, her community, and herself-proving that even in the face of adversity, one person’s determination can spark change.
JOIN US IN A MOVEMENT OF CHANGE
Our goal is to get 500 followers for this campaign to activate a chain reaction of hope and healing. If you follow for updates and then share our image below, YOU can help bring stardust to a dark land. Let's stop letting the United States government tell us what is essential. This film inspires hope for change in our medical system in the United States and around the world. Millions are missing from their lives, work, family, friends, and the beautiful world around them. We need your help to show others that there's a way forward to break free.
Will you join us?
Use hashtags
#CountTheCost
#LightForMECFS
#RisingThroughME
Please TAG US if you do!
SHARE THIS CAMPAIGN ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
GET GENEROUS!
Contribute to the campaign to help us finish the film. The rewards are amazing ----->
Follow the Team on Social Media
Jen Kain: Director/Editor
https://www.instagram.com/sunnysideup1531/
Good Stuff Films (producing company)
https://www.instagram.com/good_stuff_films
Dr.Sujana Reddy: Documentary Subject and Story Producer
https://www.instagram.com/sujanareddy
Composer: Elizabeth (Ella) Becker
https://www.instagram.com/elizabeth.becker/
Producer: Matthew Jones
https://www.instagram.com/o_fantasma_
When I was working on my last documentary, I met Dr. Sujana Reddy in early 2023 and knew from the moment I met her that she was special. She has an incredible way of drawing you in and inspiring hope for a better tomorrow. A year later, I interviewed Dr. Reddy with the hope of possibly featuring her in my final documentary about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, but I felt her story was too important and needed to be its own thing. So, when I found out that her last hurdle in becoming a doctor was passing her board exams, I knew I had the story. We are remarkably similar in many ways, and we've developed an incredible friendship. I want to tell my friend's story because the world needs to hear it. Dr. Sujana Reddy is a person with ambition, life, and goals despite having a debilitating illness. I hope that she passes her test and that she helps others as a doctor. She is the doctor who listens, cares, and goes above and beyond. Everyone needs to know there's a doctor out there who cares about you and your story. Often, when people who have complex conditions go to a doctor, they are dismissed and not believed and not treated for the conditions they have. It's about time we have doctors like Dr.Sujana Reddy out there to be heard and seen. I'm making this documentary because I want others to know they're not alone. We are fighting and advocating on behalf of everyone who has ME/CFS.
-Director Jen Kain
Our Timeline
June-August: Production and assembly edit
August-December: Post Production
Jan-Feb: Final export and delivery of film
Film Website
https://www.goodstuff-story.co/count-the-cost
Join the Newsletter for Updates
https://count0the0cost.substack.com/
Stretch Goals
- Fund additional plane tickets to get our incredible producer to film the second shoot in August. He's a cinematographer by trade, but he's acting in a producing capacity. ($2500)
- Publicity is important especially if this film can get Oscar qualified. The plan at the moment is to not submit this to festivals but if additional stretch goals of (5k) can get raised then it will go to submitting to film festivals and marketing.
AAPI Renaissance Rally
- Our team has also entered into a grant competition. Share this page with your friends. We need more stories out there that represent true authentic lives of Asian Americans. By joining our team you are helping us create real change in the film industry.
- About 2/3 of Asian representation in mainstream film and television are still "knowledge" or "martial arts" roles. To combat monolithic and stereotypical narratives, Seed&Spark is partnering with Gold House for its first AAPI Renaissance rally to drive awareness and funding for projects that lead with multidimensional or unexpected Asian and Pacific Islander characters. (From the rally section of Seed&Spark)
- https://seedandspark.com/aapi-renaissance-rally
Kinema Screenings
Kinema is an independent filmmaker's dream. Films have life through Kinema's online distribution platform, which offers rental, purchase, and in-person screenings, as well as interactive live streaming events. Seed & Spark has partnered with Kinema.
https://kinema.com/filmmakers
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! WITHOUT YOU, NOTHING WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Hire a senior 2d after effects animator
Costs $3,000
This tells the story of Sujana stuck in a tower and over the course of the film she becomes free - This is going to be 2d animated
Travel Expenses
Costs $2,500
Car rental, flights to the location of the film. Goal is to go to Alabama in Summer and Fall to see Sujana take her test the week it happens
Mid-Senior Graphic Designer
Costs $1,000
This person tells the story visually. From posters, to key art and social media pieces
Share this update!
About This Team
Dr. Sujana Reddy, DO, Story Producer: Dr. Sujana Reddy is an Internal Medicine physician based in Alabama whose personal journey with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Long-Covid, and related chronic illnesses has profoundly shaped her approach to medicine and patient care. Diagnosed with EDS at 28, Dr. Reddy’s persistence and self-advocacy led to her own diagnosis, fueling her passion for empowering patients facing these often invisible conditions. Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Reddy is a leader in patient advocacy, serving as Vice President and Medical Board Leader for Awareness for POTSies, being named Changemaker of the Year 2024 for Crisis Text line, and contributing to national conversations at both the state and federal levels. Her insights have also been featured in major publications like National Geographic, Science, and Women's Health Magazine. Dr. Reddy's commitment to raising awareness and driving systemic change in healthcare extends the impact of her story well beyond her own corner of the world.
Jennifer Kain, Film Director and Editor: Award-winning filmmaker Jen Kain is no stranger to storytelling. With over a decade of experience in Hollywood, she’s worked on everything from major blockbusters to powerful indie documentaries. But in 2021, her world shifted when she was diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS)—a complex genetic condition that affects the body’s connective tissues. Not long after, she developed Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a life-altering condition that often accompanies hEDS. Rather than step away from filmmaking, Jen turned the camera toward her community. Her second feature-length documentary, Exhausted Existence: An EDS Story, gave voice to others living with EDS, highlighting not only the struggles but also the strength it takes to live and thrive with an invisible illness. During her research, Jen met Dr. Sujana Reddy, a relentless advocate and medical professional dedicated to raising awareness about ME/CFS and Long-Covid. Dr. Reddy’s story struck a deep chord. Even while producing Exhausted Existence, Jen knew this was a film she had to make. Her third feature-length documentary centers on Dr. Reddy’s mission—and it couldn’t come at a more urgent time. With millions affected by Long-Covid and ME/CFS, awareness, research, and advocacy are more critical than ever. Jen Kain is ready to shine a light on the truth—and this time, it's personal.
ELIZABETH BECKER is a composer, arranger, orchestrator, and vocalist: Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Her musical journey began at a young age, finding a love for singing musical theater and classical repertoire. This grew into learning more instruments. After learning piano, she began writing original compositions and found a passion for scoring to media. Since then, she attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts studying film and media scoring and contemporary writing and production. After graduating in August of 2023, BECKER left for Los Angeles to begin her professional career. Soon after, she landed at Bleeding Fingers Music as a technical score assistant for BBC’s “Asia”. This led her into freelancing as an assistant, and currently working as a composer on multiple projects. Her most recent work includes making music for the video game “Colossal Kickoff”, which is now available on Steam. This high energy soccer game includes intense punk-rock orchestral music. With a commitment to her composing craft, ELIZABETH BECKER hopes to share music that helps and inspires others like music has done for her.
Matthew Jones is a cinematographer and producer. For production, he has crafted corporate, documentary, commercial and narrative work for over fifteen years as a cinematographer and editor. Matthew’s love for art, photography and motion picture creation works well with his environment, as he is fortunate to have access to the vast spaces of the Arizona desert in his backyard.
Samantha Boubel is our production assistant on the film. She is also an up-and-coming actress and director with a passion for storytelling. She founded Boubel Productions and is eager to bring her vision to life. Her recent short film, Fragile, is a gripping dark drama. Samantha is dedicated to creating films that tackle critical global issues. She wants to help people by making inspirational movies.