Help Me Afford Treatment for ME/CFS
I'm 22 years old,and it's been six years since I was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, as you may know it.
Many of you may not be familiar with the disease I suffer with. I look healthy- happy even. I wouldn't blame you if you thought my disease was "no big deal". However, studies have shown that Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/CFS is often as debilitating as chronic illnesses like Lupus and HIV/AIDS.
Only a few weeks ago, I was a full-time college student headed for Dean's List at a prominent university. Now, I'm lucky to make it out of bed- let alone write a paragraph- and have been forced to withdraw from all of my classes. I've always kept a 4.0 GPA, and I was merely 3 weeks from finishing my semester, if that gives you any idea of the gravity of my situation.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis- or ME/CFS as it's often referred to- is so devastating because it drains the life out of you- and all of your dreams. I have so many aspirations for my life, but instead I'm bedridden and constantly in pain at only 22. I don't want this to be the only future I'm able to live- so I want to be as proactive about my treatment as I possibly can.
My parents have tirelessly worked secured me an appointment with renowned ME/CFS specialist, Dr. Lapp, in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Lapp is one of only a few known specialists in the entire US for ME/CFS because of how complex this neuro-immune disease is.
Unfortunately, each hour with Dr. Lapp costs $448- with good insurance. After hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, I'm trying to raise some of the money to take the financial strain off of my family. After years of them taking care of me, it's the least I could do.
Not nearly enough research nor funding has been granted to ME/CFS -which at least 1 million Americans suffer from.
And, we deserve better.
We deserve for people to pay attention to an invisible illness that's causing millions of Americans to fade away- we deserve for people to care.
Please donate: one dollar, a kind word, or spreading the word will help me reach a brighter, and less painful tomorrow.
If you'd like to learn more, and amazing documentary was made called "Forgotten Plague" that explains what symptoms people with ME/CFS struggle with on a daily basis, as well as in-depth interviews with many patients who try to cope with their lives as best they can.
Thank you for even taking the time to read this post; it means more than I'll ever be able to say.
Some links for learning more about ME/CFS can be found on:
http://theblueribbonfoundation.org/
or, I'd love you to take a look at my brand-new blog: http://thespooniechronicles.com
or http://meaction.net
