Donation protected
Hi, I’m Elanor — a mom, tattoo artist, and someone who’s been fighting hard to build a meaningful life while living with chronic pain and treatment-resistant mental illness.
In 2020, doctors found a large benign tumor wrapped around my spinal cord. It had compressed over 60% of my cervical spine, and I had to undergo a major spinal fusion from C1 to C5. After surgery, I had to relearn how to walk and use my hands again. While the surgery saved my life, it also left me with lasting damage: myelopathy, neuropathy, lower spinal stenosis, and severe chronic pain that I still live with daily. I also live with major depressive disorder and severe anxiety. On their own, either condition would be overwhelming. Together, they’ve made surviving — let alone thriving — a constant uphill battle.
In 2023, I started IV ketamine infusion therapy, and for the first time in years, I felt relief. My pain dropped from a daily baseline of 6 to a 2–3 (not including flair ups) and my mental health stabilized in a way nothing else had ever managed to do. I wasn’t numb or medicated into silence — I felt clear-headed, present, and more me than I’d been in years. It’s the only treatment that ever made me feel truly functional.
In 2024, I made the hard decision to pause treatment so I could pursue my dream of becoming a tattoo artist. I had been working in permanent makeup, which transitioned into full tattooing — something I’m deeply passionate about. At the time, I didn’t fully realize how much ketamine had been helping. The relief had become my new normal, and I had forgotten how bad the pain used to be. I also didn’t know the weight of my depression. And after a huge loss how much lower it could get. I also knew that financially, I couldn’t prioritize the cost of treatment while launching my career. So I made the sacrifice. I tried other pain management options — massage, dry needling, physical therapy, medications, talk therapy — but none of them gave me the physical and mental stability that ketamine did. Now, over a year since my last infusion (March 2024), I’m really feeling the toll. I’m still early in my tattoo career, and while I’m starting to gain momentum (which I’m incredibly grateful for), the physical demands are hard on my body. I want to keep showing up — for my work, for my kids, and for myself — but I need help getting back to a place where that’s sustainable. Recently, my psychiatrist has labeled me as being in a crisis, and we’re doing everything we can to manage things in the meantime — including strong sleep medication and anxiety medications. But these are just band-aids. I’ve also been a regular at the ER for pain crisis and flairs, to get a moment of relief before I get sent home and the meds wear off. I know from experience that ketamine infusion therapy is the only thing that’s given me real, lasting relief — physically and mentally.
What I’m Asking For:
I’m raising funds to restart ketamine infusion therapy with a short re-induction series (2–4 infusions). After that, I’ll need maintenance infusions every 3 months, which cost $300–400 each. I’m hoping to raise enough not just to restart treatment, but to cover the next couple of years of maintenance as I continue to build my career and financial stability. Ketamine infusions aren’t covered by insurance, and unfortunately, Spravato (the nasal spray alternative) doesn’t work for me. IV therapy is the only version that has consistently helped.
Why Ketamine?
• Up to 70% of people with treatment-resistant depression experience rapid, lasting relief
• It’s highly effective for chronic pain, especially neuropathic and central pain
• It’s non-addictive, non-sedating, and allows me to stay alert, creative, and emotionally present
I’m not asking for a miracle — just the chance to keep moving forward. To work more, create more, and continue building the life I’ve fought so hard for. If you’re able to donate, your support goes directly toward restarting this life-saving treatment. And if you can’t donate, just sharing this helps more than you know. With your help, I hope to get back to a healthy baseline — mentally and physically — and someday be in a place where I can carry this cost on my own. Thank you for reading, and thank you for believing in me.
With love and gratitude, Elanor
In 2020, doctors found a large benign tumor wrapped around my spinal cord. It had compressed over 60% of my cervical spine, and I had to undergo a major spinal fusion from C1 to C5. After surgery, I had to relearn how to walk and use my hands again. While the surgery saved my life, it also left me with lasting damage: myelopathy, neuropathy, lower spinal stenosis, and severe chronic pain that I still live with daily. I also live with major depressive disorder and severe anxiety. On their own, either condition would be overwhelming. Together, they’ve made surviving — let alone thriving — a constant uphill battle.
In 2023, I started IV ketamine infusion therapy, and for the first time in years, I felt relief. My pain dropped from a daily baseline of 6 to a 2–3 (not including flair ups) and my mental health stabilized in a way nothing else had ever managed to do. I wasn’t numb or medicated into silence — I felt clear-headed, present, and more me than I’d been in years. It’s the only treatment that ever made me feel truly functional.
In 2024, I made the hard decision to pause treatment so I could pursue my dream of becoming a tattoo artist. I had been working in permanent makeup, which transitioned into full tattooing — something I’m deeply passionate about. At the time, I didn’t fully realize how much ketamine had been helping. The relief had become my new normal, and I had forgotten how bad the pain used to be. I also didn’t know the weight of my depression. And after a huge loss how much lower it could get. I also knew that financially, I couldn’t prioritize the cost of treatment while launching my career. So I made the sacrifice. I tried other pain management options — massage, dry needling, physical therapy, medications, talk therapy — but none of them gave me the physical and mental stability that ketamine did. Now, over a year since my last infusion (March 2024), I’m really feeling the toll. I’m still early in my tattoo career, and while I’m starting to gain momentum (which I’m incredibly grateful for), the physical demands are hard on my body. I want to keep showing up — for my work, for my kids, and for myself — but I need help getting back to a place where that’s sustainable. Recently, my psychiatrist has labeled me as being in a crisis, and we’re doing everything we can to manage things in the meantime — including strong sleep medication and anxiety medications. But these are just band-aids. I’ve also been a regular at the ER for pain crisis and flairs, to get a moment of relief before I get sent home and the meds wear off. I know from experience that ketamine infusion therapy is the only thing that’s given me real, lasting relief — physically and mentally.
What I’m Asking For:
I’m raising funds to restart ketamine infusion therapy with a short re-induction series (2–4 infusions). After that, I’ll need maintenance infusions every 3 months, which cost $300–400 each. I’m hoping to raise enough not just to restart treatment, but to cover the next couple of years of maintenance as I continue to build my career and financial stability. Ketamine infusions aren’t covered by insurance, and unfortunately, Spravato (the nasal spray alternative) doesn’t work for me. IV therapy is the only version that has consistently helped.
Why Ketamine?
• Up to 70% of people with treatment-resistant depression experience rapid, lasting relief
• It’s highly effective for chronic pain, especially neuropathic and central pain
• It’s non-addictive, non-sedating, and allows me to stay alert, creative, and emotionally present
I’m not asking for a miracle — just the chance to keep moving forward. To work more, create more, and continue building the life I’ve fought so hard for. If you’re able to donate, your support goes directly toward restarting this life-saving treatment. And if you can’t donate, just sharing this helps more than you know. With your help, I hope to get back to a healthy baseline — mentally and physically — and someday be in a place where I can carry this cost on my own. Thank you for reading, and thank you for believing in me.
With love and gratitude, Elanor
Organizer and beneficiary
Elanor Koch
Organizer
Omaha, NE
Joe Gallardo
Beneficiary