Help Emily Rest, Recover & Return Better Than Ever

Hi friends, family, community, and kind strangers:

If you've found this GoFundMe, you probably know me. My name is Emily. I am a nurse from Belleville, ON raising 3 brilliant, busy kids alongside my spouse and a very full life.

I’m reaching out with the kind of ask I never thought I’d make.

This spring, I had what I now understand was my first rare neuroimmune disease attack. It landed me in the hospital for acute treatment, followed by weeks rehabbing at home for basic things: how to walk, how to manage nerve pain, how to make ramen noodles again (according to Pharaoh, a baseline for functioning).

It left me with vision loss, mobility changes, and lingering exhaustion. We didn’t have a confirmed diagnosis yet ... but it was serious, and it stopped me in my tracks.

If you know anything about me, slowing me down, let alone stopping me, is close to an impossible task.

At the time, I contemplated sharing a fundraiser. Deep down, I knew this was going to be a very long road to healing. But, I was embarrassed to ask. I was proud. I was naively hopeful that I could just push through without really needing help.

Now just 8 weeks after discharge, I’m in the middle of a second attack. I expected at least 3 or 6 months before anything happened again. (For context, some people can go years between attacks).

It’s gone after my right eye this time and my brain and spine have been hit again with 7 new (or worsening) lesions. I’ve only been able to work one shift since discharge, and while I’ve been interviewing for more sustainable work, I’m still in limbo—waiting for long-term disease-modifying treatments to start.

This time, I know I can’t outwork it or wait it out. I need support.

Why I’m Fundraising Now

I’m raising $5,000 to help us hold ground during this stretch. It will support the essentials while I rest, recover, and prepare for a slower, adaptive return to work. Dwayne is home full-time with the kids and carrying the rest of the weight, but the financial gap is very real.

Your support will help cover:

✨ Rent, groceries, and utilities

✨ Transportation, vision aids, and mobility support

✨ Space to recover and complete treatment without derailing everything we’ve built

The reality is, I’m not able to work at full capacity yet—and as a self-employed nurse, I don’t have sick leave or disability pay to fall back on.

Context: What This Illness Is

What I’m living with is a rare neuroimmune condition that affects:

✨ my brain

✨ spinal cord

✨ optic nerves

It causes episodes known as attacks—periods of active disease that can lead to sudden changes in vision, sensation, and movement. As well as many basic functions like swallowing and using the bathroom.

It might be relapsing MS, MOGAD, or NMOSD. Each has different long-term implications, but they share one thing: the need for rest, treatment, and space to heal.

The good news? The acute treatment is the same across the board—and I’m in the right place, receiving the right care. Shout out to the Neurology team at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in Kingston, ON.

A Note From the Nurse

If you know me, you know I’ve always been the one holding space—for patients, students, and care teams. I built Nomad Care Consulting to create care in chaos for others. But now, I’m learning what it means to receive that kind of care myself.

This fundraiser isn’t just about covering bills (let’s be real, most of it is), it’s about creating enough stability to heal outside of survival mode.

How You Can Help Today

Whether you can give $5, $50, or simply share this link, you’re helping me:

✔️ Rest without fear

✔️ Heal without rushing back into survival mode

✔️ Return to this work and life with the same fire I had before

Your support—financial, emotional, or otherwise—helps hold me up in a season I can’t carry alone. I truly felt every prayer, happy thought, and good vibe sent my way. That’s the thing about community, they know how to show up and carry you home when you need it most.

Yours in all of it,

Emily + The Edwards Crew