Greetings Friends, Family and Generous Spirits out there, it's Jessa here asking for help in the most direct way.

 

As an educator and fundraiser for environmental education and protection in West Marin for the past 22 years, I have raised countless dollars for place by asking people to donate in support of our lands, waters and biodiversity found in their own backyards. I have raised money for friends in need...However, asking for financial help for a personal emergency, is lot harder, and takes a whole new level of courage and vulnerability. A few folks encouraged me to take this step, so here I am.

 

So what's up?

In December 2021, the week before Christmas, I experienced a life changing back injury after chiroprater care that landed me in the ER just days before Christmas. I could hardly walk, and certainly could not do any thing with dignity. My MRI came back with a severe disc protrusion in my L4/L5 that directly hits my spinal cord and creates earth shattering nerve pain down my legs, tingles and numbness. If you name a treatment, I've done it or I am doing it still. I was confident I could work this out with natural methods, pharma meds, seing my chiropractor, baths, exercise, a new bed, and time, but apparently these things take lot of time, and after three months I just don't have that luxury of time anymore, let alone can continue to "work though it". I have to work to live.

 

Trust me I was convinced I could handle this by myself, and my strong work ethic and pharma help, I was able to work remotely this entire time and with my boss's support. But this happened not because I was well, but because I was masking the pain with steroidal help. I wanted to believe it was better and I was fine. I ended up with steroid spinal injections and oral meds and I thought I was going crazy. I was so relieved to be off them, and yet after, what I thought was a minor walk, has turned into some of worst part of this experience.

 

Some thing has shifted and just this week was probably the most terrifying look into how debilitating my life has become. Imagine a beached whale not being able to save it's own life or move back to the water to save itself. I didn't sleep for 46 hours and nothing calmed my pain...literally screaming in pain at the top of my lungs. And no one could do anything for me and no amount of anti inflammatory or pain med worked. Yes, I could have gone to the ER again, but this has already cost me over $2,000 and I have to question whether to get the help I need or if I will have food for me and my cats. I have insurance through Kaiser but it is still expensive. The chiropractor is $50 visit, gas is up and I have to line up a driver to do anythjng. It's too much info people, but there it is. That's where you all can help make a difference for me.

 

I hate to ask...its embarrassing and with war, fires and personal things happening all over it is hard to ask folks for a contribution at any level. But here I am asking you for any contribution to help me with this so I can get my groove back and spread more joy.

 

Why and how your gift helps?

I am scheduling a surgery that is very common, but will require up to six weeks rest and recovery time. I want my life back, I need my joy back so I can share it in the most meaningful way with others and through my nonprofit work. A gift today will help me towards this goal; so I can work to support myself, hire someone to help me clean and do laundry, spend time with my godson, and friends I haven't seen in months, so I can hop on a plane to visit my aging parents in Tennesse, so I can continue to hike and bike and experience my inspiration in the outdoors, while keeping my body and mind healthy. I cannot do this in this state.

 

I certainly don't want to be a drain on my friends, family or in life, but your donation will prepare me for the months heads of me. Thank you from the deepest part of my soul in advance.

 

I will update this when I get my surgery date, hopefully, in the next week, which will provide me with more of timeline and how you can help directly.

 

Don't want to donate online?

Gifts can be send to Jessica Reynolds-Taylor at PO box 673 Inverness, CA 94937.

Or to my venmo at jessica.reynolds.taylor

 

Can't afford to donate?

Send me funny memes, inspiration, a good luck dragon (wink)...come for a visit, or bring food.

 

Thanks,

Jessa