Help Amy Overcome COVID
Donation protected
It has been more than a year since Amy got sick with Covid-19. At first we thought it would pass, Covid wasn’t supposed to last more than a few weeks we were told unless you had to go on a ventilator, but she never got any better. Amy is now on an oxygen tank, is constantly feverish, and she needs almost daily infusions with an IV. She can only walk with a walker and even a few steps exhaust her strength. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Amy is my brother’s fiancée and an important part of our family. I have always known her to be a strong and incredibly resilient woman that never asks for help. She is used to taking care of others, not being taken care of, but after a year of battling this debilitating illness Amy is asking for our help.
Timeline
Spring 2020
It started with chest tightness, then a cough. Then came a fever and fatigue that rapidly progressed to severely difficult breathing. Her doctor tried to treat her, but known medications were making her worse. After a week she was finally able to get into a Drive-through Covid test but Amy was weakened to the point where she had to go to the ER. She was found to have double pneumonia and they could see Covid impacting the lungs. The test eventually came through much later for Covid. Under strict order from her doctor, Amy quarantined and experienced both mental and physical turmoil listening to others say she was lying or pretending to be sick and not knowing when or if she would get better.
Once an avid gamer and socializer, by May, Amy was having difficulty playing games or even reading. Her oxygen levels dropped so low that she was restricted to her bedroom with an oxygen tank as her constant companion. There were moments Amy and Ryan both thought she might not make it when her breathing became so difficult.
Worse than the physical pain, the anxiety, and the fear of the unknown, is that Amy’s illness has taken her future away from her. My brother and Amy had planned to marry this spring after many years together and waiting. The wedding had to be postponed. Amy has missed out on so many milestones and events, and she can no longer work. If you know Amy you know how much she loves her job, and how her work and coworkers are important to her. She has had to move from being a person who gives, to now having to ask for help. In addition to Amy’s struggle, Ryan’s company he worked at laid off nearly their whole staff due to the shutdown. He was able to get temporary/seasonal work while caring for Amy who needs constant help including bathing, preparing meals, and all the household chores.
Summer/Fall 2020
For a while there were glimmers of hope. A week of Amy being able to move around on her own. Some strength would come back. But every time she moved forward just an inch she consistently had a worse setback. She had a major setback at the end of August when she suffered a stroke-like episode which left her mobility near gone. And this is when she had to start using the walker. Ryans temporary job ended and furious wildfires erupted in California and as sick as she was, she and my brother had to evacuate and flee their home. While their home was ok, the fear, the exhaustion of physical activity after being bedridden for so long, and the smoke filled air caused her health to plummet once more.
Winter 2020/2021
Over the winter, Amy began making some progress and she was starting to feel a little bit better. The brain fog started easing up and she was going to be able to go back to work to the milestone of 8 hours a week. Sadly, it was not to last. Another wave of illness hit her like a truck. To this day Amy is experiencing daily fevers of 100-102 degrees, constant chest pain, nausea, vomiting, inflammation, gastro issues, nerve & muscle pain, headaches, hair falling out, vertigo, extreme fatigue, disoriented, insomnia and much more. Despite it all, Amy is still fighting to get well. Ryan was able to resume his temporary work, but it is only part time and he is applying for work that will allow him to be at home with Amy, as she needs help still.
Spring 2021
Amy is still fighting setback after setback since the end of Jan 2021. Sometimes not even being able to eat a full meal and consume a single bottle of water in a day. She finally tested negative, so she is starting to be able to see specialists and find out the extent of the damage but even this is difficult and costly.
What funds will be used for
Below is an outline of the way any funds raised will be used. In addition to paying for medications, oxygen, and doctors visits, the funds will help alleviate some of Amy’s anxiety and her fear of being on disability in the long term.
IV treatment (daily) $175 per visit
Equipment
* Portable Oxygen machine ($2k+)
* Long-term care/help
Specialists co-pays and tests
* Physical Therapy
* Neurologist
* MRI copay - $500
* Immunologist
* Routine Check ups
* Visiting nurses
* Visiting doctor
Strict Diet
Allergies
COVID related gastro and blood sugar issues
Medications
* Prescription
* Over the counter medication
All of these treatments are in the hopes of keeping her out of the hospital. Due to the pandemic there are many other people that need hospital beds and because of her past illness Amy is a high risk patient to be sent to the hospital in particular with all the variants going around and no Dr willing thus far to say it’s safe for her to be vaccinated. We are hopeful that with the right mix of specialists, applying our growing knowledge of COVID 19, and daily precautions (such as the IV treatment and oxygen tank) Amy will be able to win this fight.
Why Amy Needs Our Help
Amy is a resilient, strong, and caring woman who is fighting to get well and return to her normal life and work. She is fighting for the opportunity to marry the man of her dreams and have a life and family together. As a young woman Amy beat cancer.
She is in constant pain physically, mentally, and emotionally. Having been sick for over a year and with no cure and no reprieve is taking a toll. State disability funds have run out. The funds you donate will help to alleviate some of the fear, anxiety, and financial stress that she is facing. The donations you make let Amy know that there is a community of friends, family, and well-wishers that are rooting for her to win this battle. The impact of that support is priceless. Any funds received that are over what they absolutely need will be re-donated to other long-haulers that need help.
If you are unable to donate there are other ways to help. Some are to spread the word about this campaign, the long-hauler fight, and if local, send meals or gift cards through Smart & Final/Albertsons/InstaCart/Doordash. If you know Ryan and his skills and know of positions he is suited for he can do from home while Amy is still sick, send them their way. Also you can reach out to your senators and state representatives about getting help for people suffering from Post Covid Syndrome.
Your support and donation mean the world to Amy and our family. Thank you.
For more information:
Amy has tried to spread the word about what she is going through and to support others in the same situation. Below are links to some interviews she has during this process:
LA Times
Buzzfeed News
Amy is a part of a vast community of Long-haulers. Groups she is a part of include the Covid Longhaulers on Facebook, Body Politic, and others. For more information on long haulers and all they deal with, see below
Covid Citizen Science
Facebook Long Haulers (there are several other gofundmes)
Covid 19 Support
Amy is my brother’s fiancée and an important part of our family. I have always known her to be a strong and incredibly resilient woman that never asks for help. She is used to taking care of others, not being taken care of, but after a year of battling this debilitating illness Amy is asking for our help.
Timeline
Spring 2020
It started with chest tightness, then a cough. Then came a fever and fatigue that rapidly progressed to severely difficult breathing. Her doctor tried to treat her, but known medications were making her worse. After a week she was finally able to get into a Drive-through Covid test but Amy was weakened to the point where she had to go to the ER. She was found to have double pneumonia and they could see Covid impacting the lungs. The test eventually came through much later for Covid. Under strict order from her doctor, Amy quarantined and experienced both mental and physical turmoil listening to others say she was lying or pretending to be sick and not knowing when or if she would get better.
Once an avid gamer and socializer, by May, Amy was having difficulty playing games or even reading. Her oxygen levels dropped so low that she was restricted to her bedroom with an oxygen tank as her constant companion. There were moments Amy and Ryan both thought she might not make it when her breathing became so difficult.
Worse than the physical pain, the anxiety, and the fear of the unknown, is that Amy’s illness has taken her future away from her. My brother and Amy had planned to marry this spring after many years together and waiting. The wedding had to be postponed. Amy has missed out on so many milestones and events, and she can no longer work. If you know Amy you know how much she loves her job, and how her work and coworkers are important to her. She has had to move from being a person who gives, to now having to ask for help. In addition to Amy’s struggle, Ryan’s company he worked at laid off nearly their whole staff due to the shutdown. He was able to get temporary/seasonal work while caring for Amy who needs constant help including bathing, preparing meals, and all the household chores.
Summer/Fall 2020
For a while there were glimmers of hope. A week of Amy being able to move around on her own. Some strength would come back. But every time she moved forward just an inch she consistently had a worse setback. She had a major setback at the end of August when she suffered a stroke-like episode which left her mobility near gone. And this is when she had to start using the walker. Ryans temporary job ended and furious wildfires erupted in California and as sick as she was, she and my brother had to evacuate and flee their home. While their home was ok, the fear, the exhaustion of physical activity after being bedridden for so long, and the smoke filled air caused her health to plummet once more.
Winter 2020/2021
Over the winter, Amy began making some progress and she was starting to feel a little bit better. The brain fog started easing up and she was going to be able to go back to work to the milestone of 8 hours a week. Sadly, it was not to last. Another wave of illness hit her like a truck. To this day Amy is experiencing daily fevers of 100-102 degrees, constant chest pain, nausea, vomiting, inflammation, gastro issues, nerve & muscle pain, headaches, hair falling out, vertigo, extreme fatigue, disoriented, insomnia and much more. Despite it all, Amy is still fighting to get well. Ryan was able to resume his temporary work, but it is only part time and he is applying for work that will allow him to be at home with Amy, as she needs help still.
Spring 2021
Amy is still fighting setback after setback since the end of Jan 2021. Sometimes not even being able to eat a full meal and consume a single bottle of water in a day. She finally tested negative, so she is starting to be able to see specialists and find out the extent of the damage but even this is difficult and costly.
What funds will be used for
Below is an outline of the way any funds raised will be used. In addition to paying for medications, oxygen, and doctors visits, the funds will help alleviate some of Amy’s anxiety and her fear of being on disability in the long term.
IV treatment (daily) $175 per visit
Equipment
* Portable Oxygen machine ($2k+)
* Long-term care/help
Specialists co-pays and tests
* Physical Therapy
* Neurologist
* MRI copay - $500
* Immunologist
* Routine Check ups
* Visiting nurses
* Visiting doctor
Strict Diet
Allergies
COVID related gastro and blood sugar issues
Medications
* Prescription
* Over the counter medication
All of these treatments are in the hopes of keeping her out of the hospital. Due to the pandemic there are many other people that need hospital beds and because of her past illness Amy is a high risk patient to be sent to the hospital in particular with all the variants going around and no Dr willing thus far to say it’s safe for her to be vaccinated. We are hopeful that with the right mix of specialists, applying our growing knowledge of COVID 19, and daily precautions (such as the IV treatment and oxygen tank) Amy will be able to win this fight.
Why Amy Needs Our Help
Amy is a resilient, strong, and caring woman who is fighting to get well and return to her normal life and work. She is fighting for the opportunity to marry the man of her dreams and have a life and family together. As a young woman Amy beat cancer.
She is in constant pain physically, mentally, and emotionally. Having been sick for over a year and with no cure and no reprieve is taking a toll. State disability funds have run out. The funds you donate will help to alleviate some of the fear, anxiety, and financial stress that she is facing. The donations you make let Amy know that there is a community of friends, family, and well-wishers that are rooting for her to win this battle. The impact of that support is priceless. Any funds received that are over what they absolutely need will be re-donated to other long-haulers that need help.
If you are unable to donate there are other ways to help. Some are to spread the word about this campaign, the long-hauler fight, and if local, send meals or gift cards through Smart & Final/Albertsons/InstaCart/Doordash. If you know Ryan and his skills and know of positions he is suited for he can do from home while Amy is still sick, send them their way. Also you can reach out to your senators and state representatives about getting help for people suffering from Post Covid Syndrome.
Your support and donation mean the world to Amy and our family. Thank you.
For more information:
Amy has tried to spread the word about what she is going through and to support others in the same situation. Below are links to some interviews she has during this process:
LA Times
Buzzfeed News
Amy is a part of a vast community of Long-haulers. Groups she is a part of include the Covid Longhaulers on Facebook, Body Politic, and others. For more information on long haulers and all they deal with, see below
Covid Citizen Science
Facebook Long Haulers (there are several other gofundmes)
Covid 19 Support
Organiser and beneficiary
Marissa Mozek
Organiser
Mission Viejo, CA
Amy K Tekell
Beneficiary