Hi, my name is Susan and I’m a sometimes dancer and artist (okay, always a dancer) and full-time customer service agent. I’m 59 years old and due to chronic ongoing health issues, I’m virtually penniless. It’s a rough life out there. I’ve always worked hard and been a generous person, but times have changed, and things are much more expensive, and my ability to make a living has taken a huge hit. I’ve had multiple setbacks along the road to just having enough to exist. My entire life I’ve suffered from migraine pain. I’ve had my bouts with it and am under the care of a neurologist who freely admits they really don’t know what causes them, just that certain people are genetically predisposed to suffer from them. I’ve had some pretty rough breakthrough migraines over the years, but mostly they have been fairly well controlled. I was averaging 4-6 of them per month, which isn’t perfect, but it’s not bad. It sure beats 15-20 a month (my baseline) or, like in 2017, an 8-month migraine. So, yes, I’ll take that. Not ideal from a work standpoint as my employer only wants me to have three or less per month, which I want too, but I don’t really have a say in the matter. Still, progress IS progress.

Until July. I’ve had 33 migraine days since July 26. This has taken me out of work and completely upended my life. I’ve also had several other issues during this time, including shortness of breath, a diverticulosis flare, a urinary tract infection, and the chronic degenerative arthritis in my lower back is flaring now as well. No, the last six weeks haven’t been very fun or productive. My employer offers short-term disability pay replacement and job protection, which I’ve utilized in the past during a flare. It’s impossible to do my job well enough to not get fired during a flare. I lose all ability to concentrate, multitask, think on my feet, and my vision deteriorates to the point I can’t see. Not to mention my head feels like someone is jabbing an ice pick into my eye socket and temple during a flare. I can’t wear a headset as that makes the pain excruciating, and I certainly cannot think on my feet well enough to resolve an upset customer’s concerns and meet their needs so they not only don’t cancel, but they add another line of business as well. Basically, what I need to do is lie in a dark room until it abates. Not fielding calls is not an option as it IS a call center job.

My doctors recognize this and are kind enough to take me out of work and submit paperwork for income replacement while this is happening, so that I can rest and recover. Often, in the grip of a migraine, sleep is my only sanctuary. When I’m having an extended flare-up like I am now, just life in general is hard to manage. Being able to rest is a key line of defense. Except I haven’t been able to rest. For some reason, this time the short-term disability center needed more time to review my claim, causing me to miss my normal payout. Right when rent is due. Then, they denied my claim. I have the option to appeal, which my doctor and I are going to do. Meanwhile, I am off work with NO income coming in. Zero. Zip. Zilch. This has elevated my stress level which doesn’t help with the migraine. I have had to get help to basically sell off my extensive collection of dance costuming, fashion, art, and jewelry so I don’t get evicted. Many of these items have been in my possession for years, and it’s painful both emotionally and quite frankly physically to part with them.

I’m exhausted and suffering, but without income, I’ll be exhausted, suffering, and homeless. I have two wonderful kitties in my care as well, and I’m in a position now where the bottom is falling out. I have no fallback resources. I’ve exhausted all of those. At some point, I will also run out of things to sell, but before that happens, I’ve pretty much run out of the energy and vitality to sell. I’m hurting and exhausted, and I also cannot create any pieces of my own to sell.

My doctor prescribed me a steroid dose pack, as in the past this has worked as a Hail Mary to knock out a migraine. This time it landed me in the ER with chest pain, shortness of breath, and extreme weakness. We won’t be doing that again. So basically, this is what is happening in my life and it’s why I’m doing the fundraiser. I’m looking to ultimately replace the lost income that short-term disability normally would replace for the last six weeks. That would be enough to make me whole again. My doctor and I are appealing, but until that goes through, I have no income and the bills never stop.

I have always been active in the dance and art community and have always supported artists and dancers as well as lent my time and my money when I had it to help anyone in need. Well, I’m in need now. It’s not just from this ill-timed migraine. I’ve had financial woes ever since I got hospitalized with COVID in 2020. My health just hasn’t been the same and I’ve missed a lot of work and life because of it.

My action plan is to work with my doctor to get rid of this migraine and get my tail back to work, as well as also challenge the disability ruling. I’m not looking for headache advice - we’ve got this covered, it just is what it is. I ask of you, and I know this is a tall ask, but I’m looking to replace six weeks of income. I make an hourly plus a commission bonus that I can’t get because I’m not able to work right now. At 100 percent of goal, I make about $1680 per week. So basically, I’m looking to fill a $10,080 hole. It sounds like a lot, but life is expensive here and I also have medical bills on top of daily living and some debt I REALLY wish wasn’t there, but it is, and oh is it scary to see everything looming and no income. I’m terrified. Please help me. Until I can get better.

Thank you for listening to my story.