My friend Emma Steele has been battling serious health challenges caused by SMAS (superior mesenteric artery syndrome) EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), and Endometriosis. Over the past year, they have spent so much time in the hospital that working consistently hasn’t been possible. Because of that, they have fallen behind financially, and the stress of debt is making an already difficult journey even harder. Eating and drinking things such as clear liquids and water result in nausea for hours. They are now facing surgery and severe life changes. Emma Steele currently works two jobs and maintains a full life, and I don’t know how to express they are the hardest worker, and strongest person I know— fully deserving of help across the spectrum of mutual aid and community compassion.

Here’s what they are carrying right now:

$1,100 owed to their girlfriend, who has been covering rent when they couldn’t work.

$850 owed to their girlfriend’s parents, who stepped in to help with rent for the past two months.

$875 behind on car insurance and phone bills, which their mom has been covering since March, but can’t continue to.

$6,275 in ambulance rides and copays

Unpaid medical bills from past hospital stays and upcoming surgery, plus the cost of tube supplies and formula; and costs that aren’t fully clear yet after their recent/current but are expected to add up quickly.

Despite all of this, they are doing their best to stay positive and keep moving forward. But right now, the weight of medical debt, unpaid bills, and the uncertainty of new treatment costs is overwhelming.

Your donation would make a huge, vital, and significant difference. It would mean they can:

Catch up on rent and bills, so they aren't buried under past-due payments like they are now.

Cover medical supplies and costs tied to their upcoming surgery.

Focus their limited energy on recovery, instead of worrying about how to pay everyone back.

Even the smallest contribution will help lighten their load. And if you’re unable to give, simply sharing this campaign means the world.

Thank you so much for supporting Emma Steele; a compassionate, beautiful, and hard working individual in this incredibly tough time.

Emma’s message to you all—

My whole life has been marked by pain and complex medical challenges. Growing up, doctors were never able to tell me exactly what was wrong. In June 2025, after years of uncertainty, I finally received a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. This condition has caused severe complications with my organs, including gastroparesis, SMA syndrome, and endometriosis.

Because of my gastroparesis, which is partial paralysis of the stomach caused by EDS, I have lost a significant amount of weight very quickly. This led to the loss of the fat pad around my intestines, causing my SMA artery and abdominal aorta to compress my intestines so severely that they function at only 17 percent capacity. Even keeping liquids down, including water and broths, is a daily struggle. On September 17, 2025, a specialist informed me that I need two feeding tubes placed immediately. I am meeting with a surgeon on September 19 to discuss when this will happen.

Earlier this year, I was already out of work for a month due to extreme pelvic pain, which was ultimately diagnosed as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and Nutcracker Syndrome. Despite these challenges, I have always tried to work as hard as I can and make a difference in the lives of others, even when I cannot do much for myself. I worked two jobs up until last month when I had to quit one because of uncontrollable seizures triggered by the lights at that store. I could not complete a single shift without needing an ambulance, and the experience was extremely traumatic. I am still recovering from that period while trying to return to as normal a life as possible.

Financially, I am working as many hours as I can at my remaining job, but it is still not enough to cover everything. I lost my insurance at the beginning of September, but I was fortunate to be approved for Medicaid on my first application. I now have coverage for all my medications, treatments, and appointments, but I am still responsible for the medical debt and expenses accumulated over the past year while on my previous insurance. My goal is to pay off this debt so I can start saving for school, build a career, and create a happy and independent life.

Any support you can offer would mean the world to me. Even if you are unable to help financially, simply sharing my story would make a huge difference. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope you have a wonderful life ahead.