My name is Alice. I'm a medical assistant in North Carolina, battling several rare chronic diseases, with dreams of attending medical school. However, I hit a roadblock on the way.

I have Relapsing Polychondritis, a rare autoimmune disease which attacks cartilage in the body. This results in intense chronic pain and can attack other body systems as well. In my case, it inflames my joints ears, nose, airways, and attacks my vestibular system. This causes permanent damage to the joints, deteriorating cartilage each time it becomes inflamed, and can cause irreversible hearing loss. Little is known about the disease mechanism, and treatment is limited to trial and error of immunosuppressants and management with long-term, high dose steroids to control flares.

I also have CVID, common Variable Immunodeficiency, diagnosed after repeated infections and illnesses throughout my childhood and adult life. Being on immunosuppresants worsens this, making me even more susceptible to severe illness. I currently receive Immunoglobulin infusions, which supplements my immune system with donor antibodies.

After graduating with a certification in Commercial Diving in 202, and a Bachelor's in Biology in 2024, I began preparing for medical school applications, but hit a fork in the road with my worsening health and diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis. The physical, mental, and financial burden has been extreme. My hobbies have been limited, I don't have energy much days, and every medication I am on is very high-risk with severe side effects, requiring frequent lab work and monitoring. I have a passion for Lindy Hop, SCUBA, acting, cosplay, and so much else, all of which I am rarely, if ever, able to participate in anymore.

I have been working as a medical assistant for the past two years, since my last semester in college, and I love my job. Working with patients is very fulfilling, even though my disease can make it difficult to even get out of bed, and it is hard on my body. However, even with working, I am not making enough money to financially support myself or my medical expenses.

All I want to do is get my life and my health back together so I can pursue my passion in the medical field and attend medical school.

However, my family and I are struggling financially. The burden of medical bills, even with insurance, is absurd and all consuming, paired with rising costs of living. The constant stress of worrying about my finances has become a parasite to my life.

I delayed asking for financial assistance as long as I could, but with the new year and deductibles restarting, I cannot afford my medical care, prescriptions, or loan payments, and have already landed in a deep well of debt.

I know the economy is not in a good spot, and I don't expect anyone to donate. However, if you are in a position to donate, genuinely every bit helps, and I hope to repay the generosity back to the world when my health has recovered.

I am forever grateful to everyone who took the time to read this and even think about donating. I know I haven't talked about what I've been going through, because I don't want pity. I want to be seen as the same smiling, aspirational, healthy girl in her 20s that my friends know me as. I want to feel normal again, to enjoy hobbies, time with friends, travel, and build my career. Right now, I feel stuck in limbo of debt and treatments I can't afford.