Fundraiser to help Kanu recover from an illness

It is with some hesitancy and much humility that I am writing to ask for assistance to help me move through a difficult and debilitating health condition.

Over the last few years, especially the last four months, I have been experiencing much less energy and increasing difficulty breathing.

About two months ago, blood tests indicated that I am deficient in iron and suffering from Anemia.

At first, I thought it was simply a symptom of aging, but as I became weaker, my doctor finally requested blood tests that revealed the true cause that, fortunately, can be treated.

Since the diagnosis, I have been monitoring and limiting how much work I can do.

Noticing that despite taking supplements, medications and foods high in iron (for 3 months now)

My condition has weakened. I experience more exhaustion and muscle and joint pain after minimal activities.

It is now clear that I cannot work enough to cover the costs of living, and I will need to stop working altogether for a time to see to the health changes I need to improve.

Unfortunately, the medical system seems limited in its ability to accurately diagnose the type and cause of the anemia and the solution and treatment needed to correct the iron deficiency or test for other possible deficiencies.

I have been scheduled to see a gastroenterologist and get an MRI in late September.

It is a debilitating and frustrating situation because I had plenty of good consistent work for the next 4 months.

The plan now is to see a functional health practitioner who can provide a Comprehensive Blood Analysis.

Said to be the most efficient and non-invasive way to test for iron deficient anemia by looking at ferritin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and MCV levels in a blood sample. Other reliable indicators that aid in diagnosis include hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCH, MCHC, and red blood cells.

It also looks into other organ systems such as the thyroid, liver, cholesterol panel, inflammation markers, kidney health, blood sugar regulation and more that can differentiate between causes of anemia. The treatment will require at least three separate sessions.

It will likely be 5-6 months before I can safely return to work.

The updated estimated cost for treatment and three months of basic living expenses is $22,000. It depends on how soon it takes before I can start working again. It will likely be a different kind of work that is less strenuous and part-time.

After some research and several consultations with medical and health experts, the sooner I can begin sessions and extensive tests to determine the most effective ways to treat and return to a healthy state, the better.

It feels like a lot to ask and trusting and knowing that this process is also a big part of the healing.

A humble thank you for considering this request.

Kanu