<div>  Hello, my name is Kerry, and I never imagined I’d be in this situation asking for help.
</div>
<div>  After 15 years of marriage, my husband—who was also my caregiver and the Social Security payee responsible for handling my disability benefits—abandoned me without warning,
</div>
<div>without transportation, and without the support I depend on daily to survive. 
</div>
<div>  I am heartbroken, feeling betrayed and like I lost someone who has been my best friend for 18 years and can’t understand how anyone would do this to another person.
</div>
<div>  I’m also afraid, afraid of not having that sense of protection or assistance In event of injury or flare ups when I can’t even stand or walk because of the excruciating pain and swelling in my feet leaving me unable to even fit a sock on. Unfortunately that fear became a reality the other day after having a seizure and hitting my head while trying to empty dishwasher. I’m grateful I only ended up with a black eye and not a broken nose like I had in the past.
</div>
<div>  I live with permanent disabilities, seizures, and complex regional pain syndrome also known as “The Suicide Disease.”
</div>
<div><strong>How CRPS Affects My Daily Life</strong>
</div>
<div>CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) is a neurological pain disorder that makes my nerves misfire—ordinary touch can feel like fire, and swelling and color/temperature changes can happen without warning.
</div>
<div>•	Severe, unpredictable pain: Flares can spike from manageable to unbearable in minutes. During flares I often can’t stand or walk and sometimes can’t even fit a sock on because of swelling.
</div>
<div>•	Mobility limits: Tasks like showering, dishes, or carrying groceries can trigger days-long setbacks. I need help with stairs, lifting, and anything that keeps me on my feet.
</div>
<div>•	Extreme sensitivity (allodynia): Light touch, clothing, or a breeze can feel like burning or stabbing.
</div>
<div>•	Temperature dependence: Heat or cold can trigger flares. Stable A/C and climate control are medically necessary, not a luxury.
</div>
<div>•	Sleep disruption &amp; fatigue: Pain wakes me; lack of sleep worsens symptoms, slows healing, and makes daily tasks harder.
</div>
<div>•	Frequent medical care: Ongoing treatments (pain management, PT, injections/nerve blocks, imaging), plus meds
</div>
<div>•	Safety risks: Swelling, numbness, and pain spikes increase the risk of falls or injuries when I’m alone.
</div>
<div>•	Transportation barriers: I can’t drive, so every appointment requires paid rides or help.
</div>
<div>•	Emotional toll: Living with constant pain and uncertainty is exhausting and isolating, especially after being left without support.
</div>
<div>I had gotten CRPS as a result of having almost 20 surgical procedures. (Both feet, ankles, both elbows, my right wrist (I’m right handed) 2 spinal fusions, and my face after injury from seizure)
</div>
<div>I cannot drive, and I recently had a seizure that left me injured because no one was here to help. 
</div>
<div>  My rent has only been paid through the end of September, and without immediate assistance I will face eviction and homelessness. On top of housing, I urgently need funds for:
</div>
<div>•	Rent &amp; Housing Costs – to cover rent, first/last/security deposit if I’m forced to relocate.
</div>
<div>•	Legal Aid – to protect myself from eviction, address the misuse of my Social Security benefits, and secure my rights.
</div>
<div>•	Medical Care &amp; Living Needs – medication, treatments, and basic essentials to maintain my health and safety.
</div>
<div>   I am setting a goal of $10,000 to stabilize my life and give me a safe foundation to rebuild from. Every dollar will go directly to housing, legal, and medical needs.
</div>
<div>   I always believed i could get through anything because I’ve already overcome so much but I was wrong. As I’m trying to figure out each day what I am supposed to do next I am simultaneously learning how to do things for the first time, realizing and trying to accept what limitations I do have and how to be “selful” as a friend called it.
</div>
<div>   Even now in the midst of all this chaos, confusion, heartbreak and fear I can’t help but to think how can I pay it forward and what I can do to help others once I overcome this.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong> How you can help:</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>•	Donate if you’re able—no matter the size, it makes a difference.
</div>
<div>•	Share this campaign widely with friends, family, and networks.
</div>
<div>•	Keep me in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Your support means more than I can put into words. It is not easy for me to ask for help With your help, I can secure housing, get the legal protection I need, and stay safe as I navigate this overwhelming crisis.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Thank you for standing with me.
</div>
<div>Kerry Kathleen Halk
</div>

David Myslinski

Anonymous

Lynn McDowell

Robert Melnick

Tiffany Davis

Kelly Rezza

Kathleen Ellingson

Laura Cohen

Kathleen Bradley-Nader

Mara MacKenzie

Elizabeth Fernandez

Matt Mashke

Derek Donovan

Susan Girese

Suttida Pagorek

Cindy St Andrews

Virginia Myslinski

Audrey Melnick

Emergency Support for Kerry: Housing, Legal Aid, & Medical

Emergency Support for Kerry: Housing, Legal Aid, & Medical

Still $1,368 to go. Help us build momentum.