Aid Barbara's Fight for Health & Stability

Hi, I'm Barbara and I'm creating this to assist me with medical costs and tests and to help with monthly expenses as I am on unpaid medical leave for sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that there is no cure for. It affects everyone differently and there's no consistency; therefore, there's no specific treatment. It's a trial and error approach. I was diagnosed with an orbital mass in my left eye in February and had two biopsies, one in March and one in May. The second biopsy was from the surgery to remove the mass as I did not respond to the medications; in fact, it got worse with my eye swelling up. I have double vision, painful pressure, and headaches from the inflammation. The initial medications did not work to take away the swelling, hence the second procedure. However, it has seemed to spread to my nerves on the left side of my face. I have lightheadedness, vertigo, and painful headaches. I am unable to drive at night due to the lighting and the double vision and minimal driving due to the pressure causing unpredictable lightheadedness and vertigo. I have a team of doctors, from an ocularologist, rheumatologist, urologist, and neurologist working together to treat symptoms and to monitor where it may have spread. I will need to have a brain MRI/MRA to see if there is any swelling on the brain. I will need to screen for it spreading to my lungs, which will involve a pulmonologist. However, it takes time. I was approved for short-term disability and now waiting for the long-term approval. I was careful in saving money for the rainy days; however, without my full income, the storm has come and gone. I have exhausted what savings I had.

I am a single woman of two daughters who do their best to help; one is in college and the other is also a single mom. I am a strong woman and have a lot of pride and this is very humiliating for me to have to do this, but I am worried about my health and need to get this disease into remission and back onto a healthy life.

Any amount is greatly appreciated and somewhere in this life, I will make it up to you. My dogs have a sponsor so their needs are met.