*Karina editing to add the latest update* Waiting on another surgery, the first didn't contain the leak (a.k.a pneumothorax) and there is some suspicion of infection. Send lots of love! <3

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this. I was admitted to the hospital at the end of December with a mysterious set of symptoms that landed me in the emergency department—then the infectious disease unit—and finally the complex surgical floor at the University of Washington Hospital. It is drastic to put it lightly. And I am still here being treated. A day or so before Christmas, I jaunted towards a closing door to collect my car keys feeling normal, and the slosh inside my lung told me otherwise. Prior to this moment, I’d felt what I thought to be long Covid—but now it had become clear my issue was becoming severe. The emergency room began the tests that would ultimately unveil (I mean ten days later) the appearance of a Valley Fever complication. San Joaquin Valley Fever is common in California in Kern county’s agricultural farm land where I’d worked a large festival in May 2024—the musical line-up was insanely top-tier but I wouldn’t wish the pain and suffering of this on anyone—no matter how entertaining the show.

Mysteriously and untouched by strong antibiotics, a rare fungal infection caused my lung to collapse and become completely overrun by inflammation determined while I was in a sterile negative pressure hospital room for seven days—signage outside the room requiring both visitors and staff to gown up in protective gear, wear an N-95 (circa 2020 covid), gloves and glasses. A mid-sized lesion caused this collapse, first dictated as possible tuberculosis, cancer, necrotic pneumonia or infectious disease. The Valley Fever was confirmed, and the lung seemed slightly better. I went about life in the outside world a few days early January before the fatigue, chills and fever of an infection started to present. Emergency room once more and this time the team determined I’d need a far more intense set of medical procedures and supports to heal.

The lung collapsed a second time. Pleurodesis is the name of the surgery I underwent, which manually creates scar tissue to intentionally adhere the pleural wall to the lung—preventing further collapse. In addition to this the pulmonary and thoracic surgical team determined that a lung resectioning would be the best course of action so they hit that too while I was under the video assist surgery, so, two procedures so far. I have been connected to a suction device to prevent further collapse of the lung requiring two hose style tubes placed between upper and lower ribs. Needless to say—pain level is high but I want to add that spirits are high as well! Since this began—late December, I have been blessed with the support and love of Karina Beeler (also her most amazing children), my dad Marcos Carmona, and sister, Sara Levin—and the visits and support of friends far and wide. I have also been out of work—and as a freelance artist, teacher and student—it’s been a bit daunting and I am realizing that down the month or more of income is an eventual strain. I’m appreciative of any support to help fill the gap of this lost income of the time I have been under medical duress. Thank you all friends and family—I feel blessed by the support and kindness I have received. The love is real!