My name is Caree. Let me tell you a little bit about my journey. When I was 20, I was in an MVA. I broke my right humerus, my left tibia/fibula, my pelvis, 3 ribs, my spine at T5/T6. I ruptured my kidneys and my spleen. I had a TBI which was caused by a subdural hematoma, which the doctors had to drill a hole in the back of my head to relieve the pressure, and I was in a coma for a month. To repair the damage, I had a metal plate and 9 screws put into my arm, a metal plate in my pelvis, a metal rod and 4 screws in my leg, an artificial disc in my spine, and months and months of therapy.

A little later on in life, when I was 33, I was bitten by a tick. It was on my flank area, and at the time, all I knew was there was a bug in my shirt and I needed to get it out quickly. I ripped the body out, but the head was already embedded into my back. About a week later, I ended up with a fever of 104° that I couldn't shake. I had a bullseye rash on my back. I had rashes all over my whole body. My feet looked like soccer balls. My hands looked like softballs. I had petechiae all over my legs and my back, and I was deathly sick. I was tested by 6 different physicians from Niagara Falls, NY all the way to Rochester. Some said I was crazy. Some said they knew I had something going on but couldn't put their fingers on it, as I was tested for Lyme disease 6 times and every time, it would come back negative. So for years, I just suffered. I dealt with the constant pain, the constant fevers and rashes, the constant swelling. Finally, I found a doctor that tested me and said I had Lyme disease, but the lupus was suppressing the Lyme from coming back positive. I had no idea I had lupus. I was also diagnosed with antiphospholipid anticardiolipin disorder, which causes my RBC to build abnormal proteins around them, which causes them to become tangled with each other, causing miscarriages, possible strokes, TIA, amongst other things. He treated me with doxycycline but told me that the lasting fevers and rashes would likely never go away because it wasn't treated immediately as it should've been. So, after a couple of years of seeing a rheumatologist, I was also diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, along with rheumatoid arthritis.

Unfortunately, I have Medicaid, which doesn't cover much. I have been suffering for a decade. I am looking for anyone's help, even if it's just a dollar, so I can go to Cleveland Clinic and get the care I so desperately need. I know it's not often you will see someone create their own GoFundMe, but I am desperate to feel somewhat normal. If anyone can find it in their hearts to help me on my journey, I would be eternally grateful. Thank you all for reading. I am just praying I can get some relief.