support my fight against chronic illness ♥︎

Hi all, my name is Anna Grace and this is my story.

As some of you may or may not know, I have been struggling with chronic health issues since I was around 16 years old. At first, the answers to my symptoms alluded doctors, with only guesses as to what was truly wrong. But when I was 23, my medical team was finally able to give me the answers I had been searching for.

I was diagnosed with severe gastroparesis and global GI dysmotility - which essentially means that the nerves in my GI tract are not working properly, causing me to experience partial paralysis of my stomach, small intestine, and colon. These conditions unfortunately do not have a cure and I have tried pretty much every treatment in the book to help my symptoms improve, with little to no success.

These conditions have continued to progress over the last two years and have left me with debilitating symptoms that have stripped me of any sort of quality of life. I have had multiple surgeries and procedures to try to improve my condition, but have only continued to decline. Due to the progression, I had to drop down to very part time at my job as an endoscopy technician.

With that being said, I recently had to have an urgent surgery that has left me inpatient in the hospital since July 5th because of multiple post operative complications. Due to this, I obviously have been unable to work since then. This, combined with the fact that I haven’t been able to work my full time hours at my job since February, I am left with a huge financial burden, on top of everything else I am dealing with physically.

I am making this gofundme to help cover my bare minimum life expenses, such as my rent, car payment, and other miscellaneous bills. Without this stressor I can focus on my healing and being discharged from the hospital. Due to the fact that I had no choice but to lessen my hours at work, and because of my reluctant drop down to part time, I no longer qualify for short term disability, which would have kept me afloat until I could recover.

I will also be traveling to Cleveland Clinic this year to see one of the best motility specialists in the country in hopes of exploring new and experimental treatments for these conditions. This would also be used to aide in the travel costs for that appointment.

I have tried everything in my power to avoid this, but i’m trying to believe and accept that sometimes in life it’s okay to ask for help from the people who love and support you most.

More than anything, I could use prayers that the medical team taking care of me would quickly find a solution to the problems that are keeping me in the hospital, so I can be released and get back to my normal life.

I greatly appreciate all the support I have received through this journey, and want to thank everyone who has shown up for me during this difficult time.

Much love

Anna Grace <3