Dear friends, family, and compassionate strangers,

Amanda's world has been turned upside down. Most of you know Amanda, and you don't need me to tell you how extraordinary she is. Her heart is as big as they come, and she's always been there for others, whether it's friends, co-workers, people in her community or the countless animals she's rescued. Now, Amanda is the one who needs our help.

In October 2023, Amanda's life took a dramatic turn when she was diagnosed with a chronic Adrenal Crisis. Her body was literally shutting down – low blood sugar, low blood pressure, severe weakness, muscle and joint pain, reduced consciousness, and confusion as her body stopped producing a vital hormone: cortisol. It was terrifying. Her doctors acted quickly, but the road to recovery has been long and arduous.

After months of uncertainty, in May 2024, Amanda was finally diagnosed with Addison's disease, a rare condition where the body doesn't produce enough cortisol and aldosterone hormones. This leaves her unable to handle even the smallest amounts of stress, constantly battling exhaustion, brain fog, and a weakened immune system.

Just as Amanda was coming to terms with her new reality, disaster struck again. On July 16th, a fire ravaged her home. While firefighters heroically saved her beloved dogs, the majority of her belongings were destroyed. In a cruel twist of fate, Amanda had recently canceled her renter's insurance due to financial strain from her illness and not being able to work, leaving her with no safety net.

Now, Amanda faces an overwhelming challenge: rebuilding her life from scratch while battling a life-threatening illness. The stress of losing her home, belongings, and struggling to care for her dogs could trigger a dangerous acute adrenal failure, likely to land her in the hospital.

Despite these hardships, Amanda's first concern is always for others, her landlords loss of their property, her friend’s who are impacted by helping her, and especially her six rescue dogs:

1. Tini (15): Rescued from abuse and neglect 14 years ago, now facing fire-related health issues needing daily care

2. Daisy (8): Taken in after her elderly owner passed away from COVID-19

3 & 4. Ginger & Olive (4): taken in during the 2020 wildfires in Estacada/Molalla, Oregon. Olive is displaying levels of stress and separation anxiety since the fire. This is new for Olive since she has never had any issues before.

5. Bohdi (2): Still overcoming past trauma from severe abuse, neglect and malnutrition. His behavior has regressed since the fire and he now has medical and training needs.

6. Lily (1.5): A tiny bundle of love that joined the pack 1 year ago.

Amanda's immediate needs are overwhelming:

1. Finding a pet-friendly home for herself and her six dogs – a daunting task in itself

2. Replacing everything from clothing to kitchenware

3. Continuing her crucial medical treatment for Addison's disease

4. Providing immediate veterinary care for Tini and Bohdi, who are struggling after the fire

We're setting an initial goal of $50,000 to address these urgent needs, with a stretch goal of $100,000 to provide longer-term stability. Here's how the funds will be used:

- Initial short-term housing and storage: $8,000

- First month's rent and security deposit for a new home: $6,000

- Six months of future rent to focus on recovery: $14,000

- Medical testing and treatment for Amanda’s health not covered by insurance: $7,000

- Veterinary care for all six dogs: $10,000

- Emergency fund for unexpected expenses: $7,000

- Replacement of essential belongings: $20,000

- Additional living expenses during recovery: $28,000

Every dollar raised beyond our initial goal will go directly towards ensuring Amanda has the support she needs to fully recover, secure long-term housing, and regain her independence.

I want to be transparent: Amanda is an extremely private and self-reliant person. Her agreeing to this campaign is both humbling and a testament to the dire nature of her situation. If she didn't absolutely need this help, we wouldn't be asking.

Please give what you can. Every donation, no matter the size, brings Amanda closer to stability and health. We all know that if any of us were in need, Amanda would jump into action to be our tireless champion. Now it's our turn to be hers.