There is a summary at the end, if you would like to skip the longer story. Thank you for reading.

2022

On May 23, 2022, my partner and I drove across the city to meet my parents for the first viewing of our current home. It was also the first day I had symptoms of a cold. My partner and I had both caught Covid-19 for the first time. He recovered after about a week or so of serious rest, but I continued to struggle to breathe, my heart felt like it was pounding out of my chest or caught in my throat, I was dizzy, I was sore all over, and I was always depleted of energy. I kept working full-time from home as the rest of the company was starting to transition back to the office.

We moved into our new home in July, and it backed onto a walking path that led to a park less than a km away. I took the kids to that park every chance I could. Unfortunately, every walk became more difficult. My legs from the hips down felt like I was moving through mud, my feet were cement blocks, and my knees would buckle. It felt like my bottom half wasn’t connected to my brain. By mid-August I was using a cane to walk. I also purchased a walker that Summer to try to make going out easier. The walker barely fit in the back of our car and the energy it took to get dressed was more than I had to spare.

The kids designated school was a 15-minute drive away and wasn’t something I could do daily. My dad started driving the kids to and from school in September 2022 and still does. I can drive short distances on good days so cover when I need to, but 99% of the driving falls on him.

In October, I caught Covid-19 again. I took two weeks off work and tried to return to full-time, but my brain was damaged. I had to rest after reading a few sentences, putting sentences together was extremely difficult, and organizing my thoughts felt impossible. I now had regular migraines. My doctor continued to advise that I rest my brain and not work.

In December, the insurance company that provided my health benefits decided rest was not an adequate treatment plan and I needed to return to work. My doctor tried to advocate that it was not safe for me to return to work, but I was given the ultimatum to either return or quit - so agreed on a gradual return schedule. I was never able to return to work for more than 4 hours a day.

The first time I caught Covid it took my body; the second time it took my brain.

2023

On April 13 – two days before my birthday – I purchased forearm crutches. I needed support on both sides, and the walker was too bulky. Those crutches have allowed me to walk safely outside my home.

At the end of May – almost one year to the day of initial infection - I fainted, fell down some stairs, and fractured my ankle which left me in a boot cast for a few weeks.

I started vestibular physiotherapy that summer after it was determined a combination of dysautonomia and vestibular dysfunction caused the fainting episode. My parents drive me to the appointments because it is far and I often feel unwell after. I have continued vestibular physiotherapy every two weeks since.

In July, I purchased a shower chair. Showering is still one of the most difficult things to accomplish – I can rarely shower more than a couple times a week and often cannot blow dry my hair on the same day.

I attended the Long Covid Clinic in August where I completed a battery of tests. The Clinic referred me to a physiatrist, exercise specialist, and behavioral health specialist. I saw the Physiatrist in December, and he suspected something neurological and suggested a neurologist that my doctor then referred me to.

In April and November of 2023, I had MRIs of my brain and spine to rule out Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The Physiatrist I saw at the Long Covid Clinic was certain I had MS, even though the brain MRI in April was negative. More MRI’s will be done, as they showed some hyperintensity. The MRIs also confirmed multiple herniated and degenerated discs in my neck (C3/4, C4/5, C5/6, C6/7) and back (T7/8, T8/9, L1/2, L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1).

2024

In February, my parents hired a monthly house cleaner because I could no longer do housework.

I continued to struggle working 4 hours/day from home. I saw my doctor every few months and discussed reducing my hours at every appointment.

At the end of November, the company I worked for was no longer able to accommodate my reduced hours and split my position into two full-time positions and hoped I would apply for one of them. I couldn’t function adequately working 4 hours a day from home - there was no way I could work full-time. I transitioned to Long-Term Disability through the insurance company providing benefits.

In December, the insurance company demanded I complete a physical and cognitive assessment with an occupational therapist. That report indicated failure in both assessments and recommended further neurological intervention.

2025

On February 6, the insurance company terminated my benefits, indicating they thought I could work a full-time, in-person, data entry job. I have hired a disability lawyer and mediation with that insurance company should happen May 2026.

I applied and was approved for EI – Sickness benefits which concluded in September 2025.

With the termination of long-term disability benefits, I also lost my full prescription coverage. My prescriptions cost approximately $1000/month. My partner’s benefit plan right now covers 85%. We lost my already reduced income and now have an additional $150/month charge.

I also lost coverage for the vestibular physiotherapy I was doing every two weeks. The approximately $300/month charge has been covered by my parents since. I would benefit from additional physiotherapy on my legs, back, hips, ankle, and neck but do not have financial capacity.

I have applied for CPP Disability twice. The first time the insurance company sent the incorrect medical forms and I was denied. The second time I was denied because they believe I will get better at some point and be able to work. My application is currently under review, and it is anticipated to be complete by July 2026. My doctor has provided a great letter detailing my several chronic conditions and their debilitating symptoms. I am hopeful this letter will be enough, however, if I am denied I will have to retain legal representation and pursue every option to secure approval.

In March, tests confirmed I had developed a severe gluten sensitivity, and I have been gluten-free since. It has helped decrease nausea and stomach pain but has increased food costs and complexity of meal preparation and has left me with some internal damage that requires treatment. I maintain a gluten-free, high protein diet as much as I can, however preparing meals is exhausting and eating and digesting food has become fatiguing. I am often hungry but too fatigued to prepare food or eat. Half a protein bar requires a nap afterward on most days.

In May, my parents paid to have my laundry machines moved to the main floor from the basement. Laundry was being handled by my partner most of the time due to my fatigue and mobility issues, and even the small amount I was doing resulted in multiple falls.

In August, I completed autonomic testing and it was confirmed I have Small Fiber Neuropathy.

In September, I became disoriented, lost the connection to my legs and fell down the stairs. I fractured the same ankle and was in a boot cast again. The boot cast made my walking too uneven and caused major vestibular and dysautonomic disruption. I had to remove the boot cast, or I would be bed bound. My ankle still hurts and would benefit from physiotherapy.

I started seeing a pain specialist at the Chronic Pain Clinic in the summer of 2025 (on the waitlist since 2023). She increased my medication to the maximum levels for chronic pain and suggested opioids. I would have to stop taking Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) in order to take opioids – the LDN has been instrumental in decreasing my fatigue enough to function. There is little else the Chronic Pain Clinic can do with my case unless I move to opioids.

Now

Currently, I spend about 75% of my time inside the house; of the time I spend in the house, around 80% is spent in bed. On a good day, I have up to 4 useable hours – I parent our children, care for our pets, care for my partner, care for the house, and care for myself in those limited hours. Cooking dinner, having a shower, folding laundry, helping with homework, paying bills, getting dressed, all take resources from my limited energy.

My pain remains unmanaged – on a classic pain scale, my average is a 4-6, peaking at 8-10. I function at this pain level because I have no other choice – I have children that need me. I want them to have a normal life and maintaining their usual home, snacks, and activities is a top priority for us – other areas of our life, Jay’s credit cards, and my parents have taken the brunt of these financial changes.

My condition continues to deteriorate and each year I can do less than the year before. I need the ability to expand my treatment options – such as trigger point injections, IVIG, and travelling for specialists.

My declining health means increasing demands on my support system and my parents have become essential to my family’s daily functioning. My Dad still works a full-time job to help cover costs when he should have been able to retire years ago.

Jay has worked hard to become a Journeyman in his trade and has often worked out of town or long hours during our relationship. Now, I need him close and available – to help with daily tasks and just in case my symptoms flare and I need full support.

I have worked in roles ranging from an Administrative Assistant to Governance Director in the non-profit and regulatory sectors. I had dreams of higher education and helping others on their psychological health and wellness journey. Now, I can’t work, I can’t study, I can barely function. If I didn’t have my monthly prescriptions, supplements, treatments, and support I would be fully bedbound.

These funds will go towards immediate needs, such as monthly prescriptions, monthly vestibular physiotherapy, monthly supplements, monthly electrolytes, gluten-free foods, monthly mortgage and utilities, monthly house cleaner; future needs, such as a stair chair, a ramp, physiotherapy for body, trigger point injections, IVIG, larger vehicle (to fit mobility aids comfortably), more compression socks and clothes, adjustable bed, and miscellaneous costs that could arise; and cost recovery, such as moving the laundry upstairs, prescriptions, supplements, dietary needs, physiotherapy, income loss, house cleaner, and housing costs.

I am very aware of the current economic struggles for most families. I am grateful for and blessed by every donation and prayer received. Thank you for taking the time to read my story, please keep my family in your thoughts as we navigate this complicated path.

If you would like to connect – I am open to evidence-based treatment suggestions, words of encouragement, or further questions – please email [email redacted] . Please allow grace and patience if you are expecting a response, as I have limited capacity for tasks that fall outside of true necessity.

Summary

Medical

Financial

Needs for funding

Immediate: $5000/month

Future: $70, 000

Cost recovery: $80, 000