Help Marcedes Recover from Health and Home Loss

Hello everyone,

I’m reaching out to share the story of my incredible friend, Marcedes, who has endured more hardship this year—especially in the past three months—than anyone at 33 years old should ever have to face. For those of you who know her, you’ve seen the struggles she went through last year in 2024: health issues, personal challenges, work setbacks—enough to call it “a really rough year.” Still, she entered 2025 feeling rejuvenated, motivated, and optimistic that this would be her year of good fortune and peace.

Sadly, it turned out to be the exact opposite. Marcedes traveled to Chicago to ring in the New Year with her close high school friends. Upon arriving, she began losing feeling in her legs. After a frightening night, it became clear something was very wrong, and she was rushed to the hospital. Doctors discovered she was having a sudden, severe lupus flare-up and diagnosed her with transverse myelitis, which left her unable to walk or move. She lost all sensation from her torso down and spent weeks bedridden at Northwestern Hospital, undergoing plasma exchanges, autoimmune transfusions, countless tests, and enduring PICC lines, IVs, and many tears. Her parents came to stay in a nearby hotel, supporting her every step of the way. Eventually, she regained just enough strength to return to St. Louis, where she would learn how to move her body again in an in-patient rehabilitation center. There, she relearned how to walk with a cane, though she still lacks feeling in her legs and continues to face mobility challenges. Fortunately, her amazing family—cousins, aunts, and a supportive community—stepped in to take care of her around the clock, giving her the best chance at a full recovery.

As if that wasn’t enough, Marcedes also lost her home this month due to a fire that burnt her residence down (you probably think I’m joking…but I’m not). She moved to Los Angeles a few years ago to pursue an exciting life with friends and roommates. Although she’d already been heartbroken that the wildfires were affecting people she cared about, the fire that consumed her own place was unrelated to those wildfires. A neighboring apartment complex caught fire, which spread to her unit. Half of her home was destroyed by flames, and the other half was ruined by water from the firefighters. Nearly all her belongings were lost or damaged beyond repair. She hasn’t even been able to go back to assess the wreckage in person because of her health.

Marcedes is not the type to ever ask for help, and she is the last person in the world to deserve these hardships. If you’ve ever known her, you know she’s kind, compassionate, and the core of her many friend groups—always planning thoughtful gifts and celebrations, always the first to reach out and help. She has something truly special in her soul that comforts everyone around her. Watching her go through this has been incredibly difficult for her family, and while sending flowers and gifts has been a kind gesture from her community, it no longer feels like enough.

Since New Year’s Eve, she has lost so much: the ability to walk without assistance, opportunities, trips with friends, a sense of normalcy—and now, nearly all her material possessions. We’re asking anyone, whether you know her personally or not, to consider donating, no matter how big or small. This will assist her in:

Most importantly, I believe any contribution will help her see that the world can still be on her side, we are all thinking of her, and that she will be okay.

Because of her physical and mental health, Marcedes has stepped away from social media to focus on healing. She would love to hear from friends and loved ones, but please give her grace if she’s slow to respond. You’re welcome to leave a message below, and if you can donate anything—again, big or small—it would mean the world to her, her family, and all of us who want her to feel happy, cared for, and strong again.

The doctors can’t guarantee a full recovery, but her remarkable resilience gives them hope that she may come close. Thank you for taking the time to read her story. I hope we can help Marcedes feel the same sense of care and support she has always shown to everyone around her.

With all the gratitude,

Marcedes's friends, family, and community that love her so much.