Hello everyone! I’m ashamed to have come to this point as I have always supported myself and been the who helped support others, but I have been extremely ill for more than a year and was finally diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at the end of May this year. I have been having horrible symptoms since February 2024 and it took the doctors that long for a preliminary diagnosis. I had an MRI, nasty punch biopsies on my leg, and a lot of bloodwork to finally get the correct diagnosis. My symptoms have been so bad that I haven’t been able to work because of the vision and vertigo/balance problems, cognitive and memory problems, a lot of pain and difficulty walking. My employer helped me as much as they could with donated PTO and maintaining health insurance due to FMLA. That ran out the middle of September this year and I’ve been living off of help from others and what I could withdraw from my retirement. I had long term disability insurance with my employer and have filed for that but the neurologist dragged his feet sending in his statement (his practice was really behind the times on patient care and I am really frustrated with how much they let slide) and I recently found out that he has retired and another neurologist is taking over his practice (I have hopes he will be better). Finally my original neurologist sent in the paperwork (I think but I can’t get a hold of them because he has retired and the new one doesn’t start until December 7) and he, again finally, started me on MS treatment medication. He gave me samples to get me through to the middle of December but after that I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I paid for Cobra insurance for 2 months to keep my health insurance from my former employer but could not afford to continue any longer. I am going to try to get “free” healthcare insurance but who knows if I will be able to. At this point I have come to the end of my ability to pay my bills and for any further treatment once the samples run out. I’m asking for help from my friends because I have no where else to turn to. The MS is still progressively getting worse and the doctor said that I wasn’t likely to see any benefit for around 6 months. If anyone is able to help me financially I would be so grateful because you would be essentially be helping me to live. Once the long term disability comes through I will be able to support myself with that and hopefully the treatment will be successful enough that I will be able to work again in some capacity. Unfortunately it the disease has done quite a lot of damage to my brain, spine and nerves that isn’t repairable but the treatment is supposed to prevent it from getting worse. I am at the very end of my rope and am desperate, otherwise I would never ever ask for help like this. Those of you who know me know that about me. I’m truly in need of a miracle right now and am asking for help. Thank you so much!