I never thought I'd be asking strangers for help. I'm 47 years old, fiercely independent, and spent my career as a tour guide and working with at-risk youth in nonprofit art and wellness programs. I was an athlete and a traveler. I had a full life. I loved reading, cooking, backpacking, climbing, and dancing. I loved sharing my passions with others.

Now I'm mostly confined to my bed or sofa, fighting two battles I never expected: a debilitating chronic illness and an abuser who is using his wealth to weaponize the legal system against me.

I need help. I can't do this alone.

What Happened to My Health

In June 2024, I contracted COVID for the second time. My ex-partner, who knew I'd had a negative reaction to my first infection, was careless with my health. That infection changed everything.

I developed long COVID, dysautonomia, POTS, and ME/CFS. I went from being an active, outdoorsy person, and tour guide to being house and bed bound. Some days I cannot read, watch a show, or walk outside let alone clean and cook. I haven't been able to work since August 2024. My world became so small so fast.

There is no cure for my condition, and many promising treatments aren't covered by insurance. This illness has taken everything from me.

What He Did

For two and a half years, I was in a relationship with a man who told me he wanted to spend his life with me. We lived together bicoastally—Santa Monica and Brooklyn. Earlier that year, he had convinced me to quit my job with promises that he would support me financially. I trusted him.

He had spent years breaking down my boundaries around independence and financial support. Once the dependency was created, he discarded me when I got sick.

At the time I had not realised our relationship was built on false promises and manipulation.

When I got sick, he abandoned me by text message while I was in New York seeking medical care. He then changed the locks to the home we shared in Santa Monica.

Then the abuse escalated.

He kept approximately $10,000 worth of my property, including my passport, my vehicle title, and heirloom jewelry. When I tried to retrieve my belongings, he lied to the police and had me arrested. I spent 20 hours in jail for trying to get my own property from my own home.

The city dropped all charges. But I had already spent $7,000 on an attorney.

He then committed perjury to obtain a restraining order against me. This cost me about $10k in legal fees. The Santa Monica Police Department has filed a report with the Los Angeles District Attorney regarding his perjury. I have cooperated fully because I believe in protecting systems meant to help real victims.

He lied about his STD history throughout our relationship. He had me illegally evicted, wrongfully arrested. Through all of this, I did not sue him.

I Tried to Resolve This

Before I filed my lawsuit, my attorney sent a letter offering to settle. All I asked for was:

• To collect my property with a third party present

• To have my bikes and furniture mailed to me

• To have a conversation about resolving this

He refused.

I only took legal action after he had cost me over $16,000 in legal fees, rejected a simple resolution, and made it clear he would not stop all while I was unable to return to work.

My abuser works at Bank of America and earns approximately over $500,000 per year. I am a chronically ill woman with no income who spent her career as a tour guide and in nonprofits.

He was betting I was too sick and too poor to fight back.

He was wrong.

Why I Need Help Now

My attorney believes in my case. He says we will win. He has given me discounts and donated work he hasn't charged for. But his firm doesn't do contingency.

My abuser's strategy has been to bleed me dry. Even though I have been mostly bed bound this year and regularly have to cancel doctor's appointments due to my illness, I asked for only one extension and submitted all my discovery documents he requested. I have sat for my deposition in September 2025 even though it resulted in my being in extreme pain and exhaustion for weeks after because of my illness.

My abuser still has not submitted his discovery or sat for deposition.

Meanwhile, he's attending dinner parties, going to music festivals, soccer tournaments, and traveling to Europe—while refusing to comply with basic legal requirements. Every delay, every motion, every tactic adds to my bills while he waits for me to run out of money.

His attorney, who has had his bar license suspended twice, postponed a November deposition claiming recovery from open heart surgery. Days later, he posted public photos of him flying to New Orleans—drinking, partying, eating fried food.

I took out a loan expecting the case to cost around $45,000. Because they refuse to play by the rules, costs have already exceeded that and continue to climb.

Where I Am Now

I am $70,000 in debt. I have maxed out every credit card. I still am unable to work. I've spent thousands on medical expenses even with insurance and cannot afford treatments that might help me recover.

I had state disability insurance and am now applying for federal disability insurance. I never in a million years expected to be in this situation.

I thought if I ever did a GoFundMe it would be because I broke a leg climbing a mountain.

If I can't pay my attorney, I will be out over $50,000 I've already spent. My abuser will have succeeded in silencing me through financial and legal abuse.

I have explored legal funding, but those companies only fund cases against insurance companies.

The unfortunate reality is that the only way to get justice or compensation for harm through the legal system is if you have money. There is no way around it.

I have exhausted every option before asking for help.

What Your Support Will Provide

The $60,000 I'm raising will cover:

• Legal fees to continue my case and hold my abuser accountable and debt accumulated

• Medical expenses and treatments not covered by insurance

• Basic necessities including help with cleaning and groceries

• Specialized Therapy to recover from domestic and covert narcissistic abuse

Why This Matters

I am not doing this for revenge. I have been harmed. I believe that without accountability, he will do this to other women.

I refuse to let a wealthy man use the legal system to silence a sick woman.

Asking for help is the hardest thing I have ever done. I was targeted by a predator who earned my trust and used it to destroy my health, my finances, and my sense of safety.

And now I am fighting back.

If I wasn’t fighting legal abuse and malicious persecution, surviving the effects covid has had on me would be the hardest thing I have ever gone through. If I was financially secure and had a supportive partner I still don’t know how I would have survived the symptoms I am experiencing from long covid.

I am surviving, but after a year and a half of managing on my own I need to ask for financial help.

Any amount helps. If you cannot donate, please share this campaign.

It’s not easy sharing such personal aspects of my life with the public.

Thank you for believing survivors.

Thank you for believing that chronic illness is real.

With gratitude,

Kate