Sorry for the long story, but I needed to explain everything. I became drastically ill in a month's time. I am a single 47-year-old woman. I have lived in Houston, TX for the last 9 years. I work at Baylor St. Luke Medical Center in the Dialysis Unit for 8 years. I've been in the medical field for over 22 years, and I am furthering my education to become a Funeral Director/Mortician. I had 2 months left before I became ill. I have 3 grown adult kids and 1 grandson. I am originally from New Orleans, LA.

In August, I noticed myself feeling off, mainly being fatigued and tired, moving really slow. I still managed to go to work and school, then straight to bed. I really didn't think too much into it to think something was wrong. Then I started having off and on again headaches, took something, then laid down. Back to my normal work and school.

Fast forward to September, my birthday weekend, I decided to celebrate my birthday still not feeling my best. One thing I noticed was I was very thirsty, so I made sure I drank a lot of fluids. Then I said, hmm, maybe I'm getting a cold because the weather is changing and it is flu season. Took some cold medicine and rested the rest of the days that I was off. Went back to work that following week feeling okay. Now I have to take the flu shot due to my job being mandatory. Gotta get the shot, okay cool. Got the shot that Wednesday. By Friday, I was feeling horrible, left work early, got home, walked up the stairs, got short-winded. Nah, what's going on? Took cold and pain meds, laid down, went to sleep. Rested the whole weekend. Monday came, I was still feeling bad, called in for Tuesday knowing that I had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday.

Wednesday came, barely could talk. Okay, nah, I must be getting a cold, but I never started coughing or had a fever. Made it to my doctor appointment. The MA saw how I was breathing, checked me in, called my doctor. She came, examined me, took a flu and COVID swab, and sent me straight to X-ray because she didn't like the way I was sounding. X-ray comes back, pneumonia. Hmm, okay. Got my prescriptions for antibiotics, went home and rested. Called my boss to let her know what was going on. Was out for the rest of the week. Due to go back that following Tuesday, still no cough or fever, just was feeling blah! Off and on again shortness of breath.

Friday is when the body aches started. Nah, is this COVID because ain't no way. A week has passed on antibiotics and I am getting worse. Took a home COVID test, it was negative. Continued taking the antibiotics and cold meds, rested. By Monday, I was feeling better, so I went to work Tuesday. Didn't have any issues walking to my car, but once I made it to my job parking lot, it normally takes me 2 minutes to get to the rail, but it took me 30 minutes. When I made it to the hospital to my department, I reached out to a colleague. She called for help, they checked my vitals, blood pressure was good, but my O2 was very low and I couldn't catch my breath. They wheeled me down to our ED department, they took me straight to the back, got another X-ray. Now it's double pneumonia. Blood work done, white blood count comes back high. D-Dimer comes back high, so now they say it can be a blood clot in my lungs as well. Get admitted, okay.

Next, we have to do a CAT scan with contrast to see directly where the blood clot is, if there is a blood clot. Then this is when it turns out bad. Come to find out I have multiple nodules (mass) on both lungs and one is blocking my airways, causing me to be short of breath like I was. Now we need to do further testing, a biopsy, and a scope of my lungs. All kinds of tests were done. Biopsy back, no cancer; no bacteria; no blood clot; no fungus growth; nor mold or parasites. Blood work shows that I do not have any antibodies, so my body is fighting against itself basically. So now I am diagnosed with hyper autoimmune deficiency but not knowing what is the actual cause of how I became so inflamed on my lungs. Stood in the hospital for a week. Sent home on oxygen, body started hurting in the weirdest places, can't get comfortable. Doing my research as well as the doctors asking me my family history, do I have anyone in my family that has autoimmune diseases. At that time, I didn't know, but now I do have a cousin with lupus. So now I am being tested for lupus. My ANA test is positive, whatever it is, genetic. Moving on for further testing to confirm the symptoms to treat my flares so I can get back to some part of normal life.

As of now, I am out of work with no return date. I am on oxygen most of my day, cannot do too much without it. I am making this GoFundMe to help out with the extra medical bills and expenses outside of my normal bills. I am under my short-term disability through my job, but that hasn't started yet and it only covers 60% of my actual wages. Coming from a full-time income to half of that is really going to be challenging. I am my sole provider. Never in a million years did I think this is where my life would change to like with my health. This is oh so new and scary to me. I know God is a provider and His will will be done. I will get through this! This isn't easy for me to do. If you honestly know, you know I have always worked and kept my own, trying to live my life like any other human, trying to keep my head above the water. So yeah, this is definitely not my normal thing but has become my new normal life. Anything will help and I am very appreciative, grateful, and thankful for all you donate. Thank you so much and God bless!