Amy and the Giant Citrus (Lyme)

Pau Jae is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Amy McDonald.

Donation protected

I'm Paulina. I'm fundraising for my dear dear dear dear dear friend Amy. She's been in my life for 13 years and is so important to me. Amy is in many of your lives too, and if you have met her at all, you know our beautiful, powerful, honest, huge-hearted, silly, goofy, wonderful sweetie-baby Amy.

Last summer (2022), Amy was diagnosed with chronic, late-stage Lyme.

For Amy, this has meant big big fatigue. Like, falling asleep on the stairs kind of fatigue. Sleeping 15-20 hours a day fatigue. This has meant brain fog. Headaches. Relapsing fever. Joint pain. Lots of body pain that shifts from place to place. Occasional inability to open her fingers to open a door, hold a cup, type, drive.

It has been very challenging and sometimes impossible for her to do many things she loves and wants to do -- even just being comfortable, being active outside, and working.

The financial strain, both current and anticipated, is d a u n t i n g.

Amy can’t work right now and it’s not clear when she will lose her insurance. But. Even with insurance, a big bulk of her medical expenses have not and will not be covered by insurance. Once she is on the Oregon Health Plan, she will have to pay out-of-pocket in order to continue to see her Care Team (Lyme specialists and additional, supportive medical professionals). In order to receive treatment now and pursue recovery, Amy needs help. She does not need more debt. None of us do.

She also now has unprecedented expenses because she has to move asap due to dangerous levels of mold recently found in her home. (Feel free to let her/me know if you know of any safe, pet-friendly, 2-br places to live in Portland.)

Any amount that you can donate will be so helpful and meaningful to Amy and me and all her loved ones.

That being said, Amy is big on boundaries. Only donate if you feel it would be okay and good for you too. Helping spread the word will have a big impact too.

For those of you who are wondering, "What is a Lyme?" - watch this short cute British video.

Short Lyme recap:

Lyme disease is real and anyone can get it anywhere
Climate change is making it worse
The majority of people do not develop a bullseye rash or even know they were ever bitten by a tick
Lyme is wildly under-researched, misdiagnosed, under-diagnosed, and mistreated
It is much easier to treat when caught within the initial two months of infection

Learn more here