On the morning of December 23rd, my life changed overnight.
What started as a sudden collapse turned into an ongoing, complex medical journey that I’m still fighting through—three months later. Since that day, I’ve been navigating a reality I never saw coming. I have been in continuous medical care, starting with a two week hospital stay and trips to the ER from my current Skilled Nursing Facility — trying to stabilize, understand what’s happening in my body, and regain even the most basic level of independence. There's uncertainty, loss of independence… and learning how to exist in a body that doesn’t cooperate.
This isn’t just about one diagnosis or one moment—it’s been a complex, ongoing battle with my health that has completely disrupted my ability to work, create, and live the life I have rebuilt for myself. I spent 2025 starting a small business and podcast, working on my trauma and finally fully back to my light and dreams and those are now on pause because I cannot do them without the fiscal and cognitive capacity it takes to manage those things.
My current condition involves neurological and autonomic dysfunction, spinal and head trauma, and a degenerative nerve disease called Small Fiber Neuropathy. This has led to my now mystery issues, causing the following:
- Autonomic seizures that are unpredictable and physically debilitating, that can last from a few minutes up to an hour
- Severe nervous system dysregulation causing unpredictable tremors throughout my body
- Overstimulation sensitivity that can trigger episodes (I live in a dark room, as little light, sound, and noise as possible - I am a vampire.)
- Ongoing nervous system instability that impacts my ability to safely function day-to-day (if I am even inclined too much too long, the lights are out; Elvis has left the building; I'll be back after the commercial break.)
- Left leg loss of function (we nicknamed her the court jester, princess, and sassy... my care team has to move her for me most of the time and she ends up spazzing out, she doesn't like to be touched.)
- Neurogenic Bladder and Bowel (some days... most* there's no output on one end-tmi; otherwise it's just a roll of the dice on what my body decides to do and how well it'll function with assistance; currently there is discussion about a dual ostomy)
- Loss of ability to walk or stand (this was before my left leg completely left the game, anything upright cause a seizure, my body still tremors out; seizures are hit or miss and it's a win when i don't have one that day.)
- Severe chronic pain that has been rapidly progressing
- Malabsorption issues with vitamins and minerals
- 22% loss of body weight in the first two months (I lost nearly 40 lbs and I love food)
- Intermittent oxygen issues (sometimes my body just forgets, and my 02 wants to drop it like its hot.)
On top of that, I am currently waiting on multiple urgent referrals and urgent specialist appointments (some of which were deferred by the doctor due to the complexity of my case with the statements being "i don't know how I can help you, you need someone more specialized than me." -Those are the doctors I love and respect, by the way), and continued diagnostic evaluation-which is a small rarity in itself. This has been a constant cycle of waiting, advocating for myself, and trying to hold onto stability in between appointments. Healing isn’t linear, and that's okay.
Today marks 3 months in medical care.
- Three months of fighting.
- Three months of adapting.
- Three months of choosing to stay, even when it’s hard.
And while I’m proud of how far I’ve come, with mental fortitude and not seizing 24/7, there have still been the insurmountable number of setbacks... physicall, mentally, and in the real world. This quality of life comes with an overwhelming amount of financial strain.
What I’m Raising Funds For:
This is about more than surviving this moment—it’s about creating a path forward.
Daily Living
- Necessities and essential needs while in the SNF (clothes, toiletries, chargers, replacement items, etc.)
- Cost of food to support my dietary needs (the SNF has not been able to support my dietary needs, unfortunately)
- Supporting my financial strains and bills (life doesn't stop just because I can't)
- Getting supplies recommended by my medical team to support my recovery (puzzles, physical therapy equipment, entertainment, etc.)
Rebuilding my Future Stability:
- Securing reliable transportation (car + related costs)
- Recovering from financial loss
- Maintaining a safe, low-stimulation environment necessary for healing
- A small financial cushion so I’m not forced back into survival mode
- The ability to rebuild independence at a pace my body can handle
I’ve always been independent. Asking for help like this isn’t easy for me—in fact, it took a few months (3 to be exact) and good amount of friends to talk me into starting a GFM... but healing isn’t something I can do alone right now. I have built and rebuilt on my own *and bonus family. Healing and getting back on my literal feet has to be my full-time job. There are so many friends that have been around, despite the distance, so this is why I am finally making a GFM to call for help—I can’t do this on my own, in my one corner of the SNF universe.
If you’re able to donate, share, or even just send support, it truly means more than I can put into words. Every bit helps me get closer to stability, recovery, and rebuilding my life.
Moving me from:
surviving → stabilizing → rebuilding
Fundraising Goal
This reflects:
- Months of lost income
- Food and diet support
- Daily essentials
- Equipment to help my recovery and strength
- Securing future transportation and a safe haven
- A realistic cushion to rebuild—not just barely survive
This isn’t the end of my story—it’s just a chapter I get to work through. and I will never stop finding a reason to learn, grow, and seek out a way to heal.
Thank you for being part of that with me.
And I promise to pay it forward.
— Mandi