Living with chronic pain has changed every part of my life. I have persistent back pain from pinched nerves and degenerative discs, and I also deal with chronic costochondritis that causes severe chest pain. On top of that, I have POTS, which causes me to be unable to sit upright sometimes.

I experience muscle weakness to the point where I sometimes can barely hold a pen, and joint and abdominal pain that makes walking difficult. In the past, my endometriosis had spread beyond my fallopian tubes and coated my entire pelvic region. During surgery, my doctor found adhesions everywhere and had to re-arrange my rectum and other organs because the endometriosis was so severe. It regrew a second time and was removed again. Now I can feel the symptoms coming back, so I need to go in again.

To manage my conditions, I’ve had to undergo several treatments, some of which my insurance does not cover. These treatments are necessary for me to live, but they have left me with significant credit card debt, even after trying to work out a payment plan. Even though my body is way more stable than it used to be, every day is a struggle to keep up with basic needs and responsibilities.

The funds I raise here will go directly toward my medical bills and, if needed, essential living expenses like assistive devices—a new walking cane, compression gloves for my arthritis, and other tools that help me get through the day.

Everyone who knows me knows that I hate asking for help. It embarrasses me. So you can probably understand how much this means to me right now. I really, really need your help. All I really can do right now for people is write and draw. I've had commissions open, and while I love drawing people's pets, my hands are starting to get signs of early arthritis. Your support would mean the world to me and help me keep fighting for a better quality of life.