Friends and family,

For the past year and a half, I’ve been dealing with a very unique health issue that began as just annoying, but has progressed to the point that I’ve been housebound or bedbound for a year with no resolution. I’ve had to drop out of school, leave my job, and in all ways readjust to the life I now know.

This has been the most difficult time in my life far and away. It makes everything else that I’ve worried over in the past seem so easy. No part of this has been easy, and no less difficult is I’ve realized that I needed to humbly ask for help. After a year of confronting these health issues, I’m making no progress and fearing the worst. There is a potential treatment available to me, but it’s not covered by insurance and I can’t receive it until I can pay for it. It’s the best chance I have right now and I need to get started as soon as possible.

It’s important to me that everyone knows that I wouldn’t be asking for help if it wasn’t the only choice I have. I’m truly asking out of necessity and I would not think of placing this burden on anyone else if that weren’t the case. But I don’t want anyone to give more than they feel comfortable. I want to be clear that my intention is to repay or pass on your kindness when I can. It will be my only concern in life to give back at least as much as I am given once I have my health and my life back, either directly to those who have helped me or to someone else who needs it.

I am very uncomfortable asking for this kind of help. In the last eight years or so between high school, drum corps, college, and the jazz community, I feel so undeniably that I have received more than I’ve given. I’ve found so much purpose and happiness in music and in my friendships. To ask for more feels unfair. But I have to honestly say that right now I really need help.

If you are able to help, please know how very much it means to me. I could never express in words how immensely thankful I am for all the love and support of all forms that I’ve received already, and to achieve this goal with your help would mean everything to me. And if you can’t help, please know that’s okay too. I’m thankful for everyone in my life and knowing you all is what’s most important to me.

I will keep you all closely updated on everything. All I want in the world is to see everyone again when this is over. I will continue to do everything I can to make that happen very soon.

Madison