My name is Drake & my heart is in trouble. Over the holidays, I went into a breathing crisis, visiting 4 emergency rooms in 3 days. The final blow was an undetected heart attack that raged for almost two days undiagnosed & untreated.

My body broke from the stress of too much straining my system at once. The first wave was the breathing, the second wave was the flu (despite being vaccinated), the third wave was an infection wrapping around my heart, and the final wave was a heart attack collapsing a chamber in my heart that had been repaired in a previous open-heart surgery. I was not stable enough for a stent to repair it. They are trying to treat me medically.

I had only recently been able to return to work & establish insurance again, after literally losing everything following open-heart surgery a few years ago. I was struggling to finally get back on my feet & rebuild. I was trying to Celebrate the Holidays with my family. It looked like I might make it. Then, right back into crisis.

I haven't had my job long enough to qualify for leave benefits or have accrued enough for any time off with pay. My savings are long gone from my previous illnesses, including three earlier heart attacks, open-heart surgery, two brain surgeries, multiple organ failure, loss of my gallbladder, long COVID lung damage & chronic pain.

I was already struggling financially to catch up & now am facing an overwhelming & currently insurmountable surge in doctor's visits with crippling co-pays, additional testing, treatment & prescription costs, as well as regular cost of living basics, like rent, food & electricity. All while trying to heal again & get back to work to keep my insurance.

It is beyond devastating. I cannot believe I am in this position yet again. I need help. My service dog & his emotional support cat need me. When you have nothing, but are suddenly faced with needing so much more, it is paralyzing in the added stress & sadness of the despair.

I am reaching out with hope. I am praying for a miracle. I am fighting for more tomorrows, if I can just get through today. I am asking for any help, large or small. Everything makes a difference, anything is appreciated, whether to buy a single can of soup, or pay a co-pay, or get one more medication. Anything when you have nothing is everything.

If you can help me, thank you. If you can share, so others might be able to help, thank you. Anything at all. Thank you.