Hello friends, family, and community,
I’m reaching out during an ongoing and incredibly difficult chapter in my life. Since January, I have been facing serious health complications stemming from an initial medical emergency, and the challenges have continued far longer than I ever anticipated.
For those who would like a detailed overview, I’ve included a timeline here:
(Medical documentation and letters of verification are available upon request.)
As many of you know, I’ve been sharing updates about my battle with E. coli and the complications affecting my kidneys. What began as an acute emergency has turned into an ongoing health struggle. While missing a few days of work for a serious illness is normally manageable, this situation has been compounded by prior illnesses in December and January that exhausted all of my paid time off for the school year.
In January, I worked closely with HR to explore whether I qualified for FMLA due to the unexpected severity of my condition. On January 23rd, I was informed that I did not qualify because I had not been formally admitted to the hospital, despite receiving emergency care. This was deeply discouraging, especially given that protections like these are intended to support individuals during crises like this.
I explored every alternative available to me. Unfortunately, my employer does not offer short-term disability or similar assistance, and I was ultimately unable to qualify for Minnesota’s Paid Leave program due to my ineligibility for FMLA. Despite these setbacks, I remained hopeful and focused on recovery.
By mid-February, I had improved enough to return to work. For a brief period, it felt like I was finally healing. However, within weeks, my symptoms returned intermittently. Some days, I felt strong and capable—those moments continue to give me hope. Other days, I experienced severe symptoms that forced me to leave work early. While I did not miss as much time as before, the inconsistency significantly impacted my income.
Throughout this journey, I have remained in close contact with my medical team as we work to understand why my recovery has been so prolonged. There is concern that the initial infection may have triggered an underlying autoimmune condition, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease. Most recently, on March 30th, it was confirmed after a weekend hospitalization that I am still battling a kidney infection, which explains the ongoing fluctuations in my health.
I want to be transparent: I began this journey with savings, but those funds have now been completely depleted. At this point, I am struggling to cover basic living expenses, including rent, bills, and food, while continuing to recover from these serious health conditions. As of April 1st, I have fallen behind on rent despite contributing everything I could. I have reached out to various organizations and local/county/state assistance programs, however, I either do not qualify or I technically make too much money.
Unfortunately, I am not in a position to rely on my family for financial support, as they are facing their own challenges. Being far from them during this time has been especially difficult. However, I am deeply grateful for the support of my chosen family and community here, who have helped care for me in ways I will never forget.
It has taken a great deal of vulnerability for me to ask for help. Growing up in poverty and experiencing housing instability has made this especially difficult—I have always worked hard to be self-sufficient. But this situation has placed me in a position where I cannot do it alone, and I am genuinely afraid of losing my housing and transportation due to circumstances beyond my control.
If you are able to contribute in any way, it would mean more than I can express. Your support—whether financial, emotional, or simply sharing this message—will make a meaningful difference in helping me get through this.
I also want to give back however I can. Once I am healthy enough, I would be more than willing to offer services such as pet sitting, babysitting, or helping with tasks like shoveling—anything to show my gratitude.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, for your compassion, and for your support during this incredibly challenging time. It truly means everything to me.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Gracie <3
Organizer
