Hello! McLane Hedberg Samuelu has been suffering from Long-Covid for a year and a half. Some people think Long-Covid means lingering Covid symptoms, like loss of taste or smell. For McLane, it has been so much worse. McLane had Covid in December of 2021. The only symptom she had was that she couldn’t smell. Even that symptom came and went quickly. Then in April of 2022, she had her first attack. At the time, we thought she had a stroke. She lost her vision in one eye. Her face was numb. She was dizzy and couldn’t walk. We took her to the emergency room where they ran countless tests. We left the hospital that day without answers. Since that first day at the hospital, she has returned many times. She has seen over 22 doctors and specialists including neurologists, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, Covid specialists, Covid physical therapists and many more. Every doctor has cared for McLane and done what they knew how to do, but Long-Covid is new and there has not been enough research done to know how to help her. McLane has had a wide range of symptoms. Some of her symptoms have gone away but something new always comes. McLane suffers from POTS which is a condition that affects her heart and her ability to sit or stand for even short periods of time. She suffers from atypical headaches, dizziness, balance problems, shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, nausea, numbness/tingling in her arms and legs, blurry vision, sensitivity to light and sound, trouble concentrating/focusing, trouble sleeping, and difficulty thinking and processing information. These symptoms have taken her quality of life, as well as her ability to drive and to work. If you know McLane, you know she is always smiling and is a happy person. She has continued to maintain her positive attitude, but it has not been easy for her to be sick every day and to put her life on hold. It has also been hard to maintain hope. She has had to wait up to six months to see some of the specialists. We are always hopeful they will be the one to help her, but so far, no one has been able to. This month we learned of a treatment center for people with Long-Covid. We have a neighbor who had Long-Covid for three years. He suffered debilitating symptoms like McLane. After attending this treatment center, he has recovered almost fully to where he was before he became sick. We have since learned of three other people who live nearby who have gone to the treatment center and they have all improved significantly. We want this same treatment for McLane. We want her to have her life back. Before Long-Covid, McLane and her husband, Justice, saved money to put towards a house. Since Long-Covid, the money has been spent on doctors, hospitals, and expensive medications. With the support of our family and friends, we are hoping to send McLane to the treatment center in September. She will be there for two weeks and will be treated by a large team of specialists who have scientifically proven that they can make a difference for people like McLane who have lost themselves to Long-Covid. The two-week treatment will cost a minimum of $25,000. Insurance does not cover any of the cost.  It is expensive, but we will do anything to help her return to the life she had before Covid came. McLane is obviously uncomfortable about us creating a Go-Fund-Me, but we know she is the first to help others, so we want to help her. We also know she will pay it forward when she is able to live a normal life again. We appreciate you taking the time to read about McLane’s struggle with Long-Covid and would appreciate any help you can give to get her the help she needs.