My name is Tahlya. I'm a 28 year old mechanic that lives in Philadelphia with my 3 precious kitty cats and asthma and fibromyalgia. This March, I contracted covid-19. I was severely ill for about 6 weeks. Fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, GI distress, severe acid reflux, widespread severe muscle and joint pain, brain fog, short term memory issues - I was lying on the couch gasping for air and hallucinating.

In mid-May I was fever and cough free for long enough to go back to work, finally, after being out for almost 2 months, mostly unpaid. I still had trouble breathing and severe pain. It felt like I was breathing in needles with every breath I took up until about 2 weeks ago. The rest of the symptoms never went away, despite that I've now tested negative several times. I was able to go back to work, but I was calling out several times a week because I couldn't do my job and breathe at the same time, in and out of the hospital, seeing my primary care doctor, a pulmonologist, an allergist and a neurologist. My symptoms would randomly improve and then drastically get worse. Over time I've also lost fine motor skill function and been diagnosed with a neurological movement disorder called Dystonia, in addition to the trouble breathing, extreme pain, severe acid reflux and other symptoms that have not gone away. I went back out of work long-term in mid-August because I was collapsing at work due to the asthma and dystonia episodes. I was buying time with my bills that would allow me to put them off, other utilities and insurance that would not allow me to postpone overdrafted my bank account. It's now election day in November and I have no answers as for specific type of dystonia or treatment course. My job is being held but I am not getting any income. I filed for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act but have received neither any money nor decision that I don't qualify, so I have no idea when or if I will get any unemployment.

 Yesterday I was informed by my landlord that they will be filing for back-rent and subsequent eviction if I cannot pay. My bank account is going to be sent to collections next week because it has been negative for more than 30 days in order to keep the car insured and pay my doctor appointments and medication and rent. I've maxed out the deferments on my car payment. My phone is about to be shut off. I'm running out of cat food and litter. I have 9 medications to be filled and I owe copays for 3 appointments already and have 6 more coming up. I didn't even factor in the hospital bills; this is for my rent, electric, car, car insurance, health insurance, copays, medications, groceries, phone bill Most importantly, my health insurance will be cancelled if I cannot pay my job to keep my insurance so that I can get a full diagnosis and treatment plan. If I can't get a full diagnosis and treatment plan, I can't go back to work. I really, really need to go to these appointments and get these medications so that I can go back to work and start earning money again so I don't have to keep begging. I know so many people are struggling right now, but if you could please help it would mean the world to me and my cats if we didn't have to live out of my car that's being threatened to be reposessed.

 

I'll post updates as I can. Anything you can give is appreciated. If you can't give, please share the link.

Scott Diver

Anonymous

2 disabled partners & our 5 cats on a fixed income

Still $2,633 to go. Help us build momentum.