My name is Marleen I'm a black queer doula living in Los Angeles. For the past decade, I have been a caregiver and advocate for others navigating the medical system while pregnant. Now I am facing an uphill battle trying to navigate the health care system myself. I am currently working with a neurologist, ENT, audiologist, stroke specialist, and vestibular specialist to get a proper diagnosis. At the moment, my care team suspects Meniere’s disease. Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Meniere’s disease has no cure and is a lifetime condition.

Living with Meniere’s disease can be very unpredictable. Some days I feel like I can do anything; other days my world is spinning, I'm throwing up, and I have limited hearing in my left ear. Due to this unpredictability, I need to pay other doulas to be my backup in case I have a Meniere’s attack.

I have been trying to keep my condition private, but I really need to call on my community for help. Your donation will go towards my medical bills and pay for my expenses during a future Meniere’s attack.

Thank you for reading.