Erik's Journey: From Pain to Advocacy

Hi, my name is Erik, and I’m reaching out for help with an urgent medical expense. I have a wisdom tooth that’s causing unbearable pain, and I need $1,300 to have it extracted. 275$ is for deep sedation for the first 15 minutes, another 275$ for the next 15 minutes and the complicated impaction surgery of 670$. I will also need a ride to and from because I will not be able to drive myself. Unfortunately, I have no way of covering this cost on my own.

A little about me—I have a Master’s in Education, but life has taken me down a rough road. I’m a recovering addict, clean since 2022, and a felon. I was homeless for years and have been battling serious medical issues, including a recurring leg wound that has left me unable to work. After years of fighting, I was finally approved for disability, but until it finalizes, I’m uninsured and forced to pay out of pocket for treatment, including medication-assisted recovery.

My health struggles started in 2020 after a severe injury in jail, leading to multiple bouts of Sepsis, MRSA, osteomyelitis in my tibia, and

crushed vertebrae. At multiple points, I was septic and nearly lost my life and was even intubated. I still require wound care twice a week, which I have to pay for myself since South Carolina doesn’t fully participate in Medicaid expansion under the ACA.

Despite everything, I’m pushing forward. I met and married my wife while she was incarcerated, and I’m doing my best to survive while also working toward something bigger—using my experiences to advocate for better treatment of prisoners and marginalized groups. I dream of going to law school and making real change.

Right now, though, I need help. I do what I can under my family’s name through gig work like DoorDash and Lyft, but it’s barely enough to get by. This wisdom tooth pain is unbearable, and I can’t afford to wait. Anything you can contribute would mean the world to me.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for any support you can give.