Phoebe's Long Covid Battle

Hi - My name is Brad Finefrock. In life, you don't come across many people who devote themselves to always looking out for others. I have a very special friend who has always been there for me and my family and I have watched firsthand how she has always put everyone ahead of herself. Today she is in need of help and support.

Phoebe Stevens is our dear family friend of 19 years who has been struggling with extraordinary health issues over the past 3 1/2 years due to long COVID. Since contracting the virus in March 2020, she is presently suffering from chronic respiratory disease, liver, heart and kidney complications, collapsed lungs, neurocognitive disorder, sepsis, elevated blood pressure, digestive issues, nerve damage, psoriatic arthritis, chronic migraines, vocal cord disease, and numerous cancer masses. She is currently battling this illness as her 78-year old mom, Claudia, looks after her on a 24/7 basis in their two-bedroom condo. Phoebe is currently receiving full-time oxygen therapy and despite her doing her best to walk, most of the time she is with a walker or in a wheelchair due to her weak muscles and joints and dizziness.

Just a few short years ago, Phoebe was ready to take over the world until she was stopped abruptly in her tracks during her second year of her Masters program. Despite the considerable medical treatments she was undergoing since contracting COVID during her first year, Phoebe earned her MBA from Pepperdine University in April 2021. She remained optimistic and expected herself to eventually make a full recovery, however her condition had only worsened. This caused Phoebe to step away from her full time career so she and her mom could exclusively focus on her endless treatments and hopeful recovery. As a result, their household income dropped precipitously, as Claudia is a retired teacher and lives off of her pension. To make matters worse, last week Phoebe was rejected for long term disability, which she was counting on to help supplement her household and medical expenses that her health insurance doesn't cover. My hope with this fundraiser is that we can raise enough money so Phoebe and her mom can pay their living expenses for the next two years, which will take significant stress off their shoulders.

Phoebe and her mom have tremendous pride, and as long as I have known them they have never asked for anything, they only give. In fact, I had to beg Phoebe to launch this campaign, which after a lot of careful thought with her mom and many tears, they humbly accepted.

Thank you for your consideration and hearing Phoebe's story. She and her mom graciously appreciate all of your support.

Regards,

Brad