After 8 years of often unbearable pain slowly going up both legs, I finally received my diagnosis: Genetic Peripheral Neuropathy. It’s not just pins and needles—it's constant pain. The diagnosis took so long that I no longer qualify for disability, and I haven’t been able to work in many years. I am slowly losing the ability to walk, just as my father did in his late 60s. I can’t walk around with my children on vacation, lose my balance easily, can’t go grocery shopping, and can’t stand in one spot for more than 5-10 minutes. Now, I’m also facing several new heart problems, including Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, Cardiomyopathy, Heart Failure, and a large blood clot in my arm from a recent, painful heart catheter. I’m facing another surgery soon.

We are a family of 6, and it has become really hard to get by financially. I am losing my health insurance tomorrow, and we have to pay out of pocket just for my coverage. David, my partner, has to miss a lot of work to take me to appointments and surgeries. The cost of gas for frequent trips to UAB adds up quickly, and I am on at least 15-20 medications. These expenses are overwhelming for us right now.

Thank you all so very much for your thoughts and prayers. Please keep them coming. I have 4 babies that need me. Any support you can offer means the world to us.