I have epilepsy, and my journey has been filled with challenges. We discovered I was pregnant after a seizure that put me in the hospital, and by the grace of God, I made it through the pregnancy without another episode. However, nine days after the birth of my third child, I suffered a seizure and a stroke that left me on a ventilator at Vanderbilt Hospital. That was eleven years ago, and I have struggled ever since. My stroke caused serious memory issues—so much so that my husband has to help me remember important details about my own life. He is disabled and takes care of our daily routines, from managing bills to getting our son to school and handling groceries and medications.

Because my husband is on disability and I am now unable to work, we are in a difficult financial situation. I have been fired from my last two jobs due to my inability to meet policy standards, which is directly related to my memory loss. I have worked as a Registered Nurse since 2009, but I have to accept that I can no longer provide for my family as the primary breadwinner. My most recent job loss was just yesterday, and I am heartbroken to be in this position.

Right now, I am asking for help to cover the essentials: my epilepsy medication, our mortgage, food, and health insurance for upcoming neurology appointments. Without these, I worry about losing our home and not being able to get the care I need. I am looking for work and considering filing for disability, but in the meantime, we need support to get through this tough time. Any help, no matter how small, would mean the world to my family and me. Thank you for reading my story and for any support you can offer.