#ElanaTheZebra fights Ehlers Danlos

Hi there!

If you’re reading this,
then you know how much I’ve been through.
Or,
you don’t, and your friend sent this to you
and you aren’t yet sure why.
Or, you saw “zebra” and got intrigued.
Or, you want to help raise awareness for
Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, like I do.
(EDS sufferers are called zebras.)

Anyway,
my name is
Elana Simon.
Elana Simon, ACSW
(I've been working very hard to be a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker.)
or
the newly minted 21st century hashtag
#ElanaTheZebra
across all social media platforms.
Really.
This zebra isn't going to suffer in silence anymore.

I am a bubbly and fun-loving therapist
who has always tried to help everyone around me…
and now I’m asking for help in return.

The burden of medical expenses has become too much. I'm so lucky to be in a wonderful relationship with my devoted boyfriend,
but,
as they say,
love don't pay the rent.
At $55 a doctor appointment and
$5-10 parking each time,
(no break for a handicap pass),
we are on the verge
of having to choose
between
MEDICAL EXPENSES and our RENT.

I've made this campaign for a few reasons:
to share my story,
to fund my surgeries and recovery expenses,
to get a little help with keeping our fridge stocked,
to get a few much-needed medical supplies,
to spread awareness about EDS,
and
to be able to afford the rent for the handicap-accessible apartment we just moved into!!

All that costs $$$.

I haven’t shared my whole story in a public way before, so pardon me if this is awkward.

Now 29,
At age 10, I started working.
At age 15, I broke my back.
At age 19, I broke my ankle.
At age 20, I had knee surgery.
Ages 20-27, I searched for the cause of my chronic pain.
At age 27, I received the overwhelming diagnosis of a rare, incurable, severely debilitating genetic disorder called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
Also at age 27, I was diagnosed with Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.
At age 28, on January 8, 2016, I was in a minor car accident that re-arranged my bodyparts.
Therefore, at age 28, I became disabled.
At age 29, I had to quit working and became unable to move without assistive devices.

I suffer extreme pain every day, every moment of my life.
But, I have gathered a team of excellent medical doctors around me.
Soon, I will have my ankle fused.
Shortly thereafter, I will have my spine fused.

Please help me put myself back together.

If funded, I pledge to continue to:
- Fight for my health
- Fight for educational equality
- Provide therapy to individuals and groups as a Clinical           Social Worker
- Host great parties where people meet their future            partners, coworkers, roommates, and friends!
- Raise awareness and funds for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome