<div><strong><em>‼️Deutsche Version weiter unten ↓</em></strong>
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<div><strong>Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted readers, </strong>
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<div>Two and a half years ago, my life changed completely due to a devastating illness: <strong>Myalgic Encephalomyelitis</strong> (ME, also known as ME/CFS). This complex neuroimmunological disease has not only destroyed my health but also taken away my ability to live a normal life.
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<div>Today, I am 34 years old, but my activity level is lower than that of the average 90-year-old. I am 100% housebound and spend most of my days in bed, unable to care for myself or manage basic tasks like showering or preparing food without external help.
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<div>The most disabling symptom of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), a condition where any form of physical, mental, or emotional exertion leads to extreme worsening of symptoms. Simple activities like hearing noise, organizing a shopping list, or even digesting food can trigger this. During a “crash,” I experience severe symptoms such as uncontrollable shaking, muscle spasms, difficulty breathing, vision loss, and dangerous heart rate fluctuations. These episodes often require urgent medical intervention and, in bad phases, occur daily.
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<div>Over the past 30 months, ME has taken nearly everything from me:
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<li>I had to abandon my work as a founder of a DeepTech science communication startup
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<li>I paused my studies and lost many meaningful connections
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<li>My heart and aorta are damaged due to a COVID-19 infection from 2022 leading to chronic reactivated infections like Epstein-Barr Virus and CMV
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<div>On top of ME, I suffer from comorbidities like <strong>Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)</strong> and hyperandrenergic <strong>Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)</strong>, making my situation even more unbearable.
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<div><strong>Why I Need Your Help</strong>
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<div>The German healthcare system does not cover diagnostics, treatments, or medications for ME. This is a systemic failure affecting over 600,000 people in Germany and millions worldwide: "Patients with ME/CFS reported that they had had predominantly negative experiences within the German healthcare and social system (<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11553-024-01170-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">source</a>)." Without immediate treatment, my condition will continue to worsen, and I fear becoming a chronic care case—or worse.
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<div><strong>That’s why I am humbly asking for your financial support to give me a chance to heal and reclaim my life.</strong>
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/85246449_173524136124860_r.jpeg" width="100%" /><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/85246449_1735241336580313_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><strong>What the Funds Will Cover</strong>
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<div>The funding goal of <strong>€41,050 </strong>will be used for the following critical treatments and expenses:
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<div><strong>1. Immediate Medical Needs (€1,850):</strong>
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<li>Repayment of medical debt for laboratory tests and diagnostics
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<li>Acute medical aid (e.g., a cane and emergency medications) to help me stabilize enough to leave my home
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<div><strong>2. Antiviral and Monoclonal Antibody Therapy (€8,000):</strong>
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<li>To clear my body of persisting infections
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<li>This includes treatment for a small bone necrosis
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<div><strong>3. Immune Adsorption (€25,200):</strong>
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<li>A blood-filtering treatment to remove autoantibodies, which worsen my condition
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<li>Includes transportation costs
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<li>"Further lasting improvements were reported in fatigue, post-exertional malaise, pain, cognitive, autonomic, and immunological symptoms (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776224003302" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">source</a>)."
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<div><strong>4. Cardiac MRIs (€2,000):</strong>
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<li>To monitor the healing of my heart and aorta and adjust medications if necessary
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<div><strong>5. Aftercare and Medications (€4,000):</strong>
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<li>One year of follow-up care and necessary medications to support recovery
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</ul>
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/85246449_1735241480904322_r.jpeg" width="100%" /><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/85246449_1735241541885372_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><strong>Why Your Support Matters</strong>
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<div>Before ME, I dedicated my life to improving science communication. As a journalist, I worked on stories highlighting social initiatives, from supporting refugee education to promoting sports for disabled individuals. My passion was empowering people with knowledge to make better decisions for a brighter future.
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<div>I dream of returning to this mission. But first, I need to survive. I need the chance to heal and regain the strength to contribute to the world again.
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<div>Your donation—no matter the size—can make an immediate and lasting difference in my life. If you’re unable to contribute financially, sharing my story can also help immensely.
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<div>Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness, empathy, and support.
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<div>With gratitude,
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<div>Michael
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<div>______________
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<div>Liebe Freunde, Familie und geneigte Leser,
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<div>Vor zweieinhalb Jahren veränderte eine verheerende Krankheit mein Leben vollständig: <strong>Myalgische Enzephalomyelitis</strong> (ME, auch bekannt als ME/CFS). Diese komplexe neuroimmunologische Krankheit hat nicht nur meine Gesundheit zerstört, sondern auch meine Fähigkeit genommen, ein normales Leben zu führen.
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</div><iframe media_type="0" media_id="bX0jhyCIkCc" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bX0jhyCIkCc/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe>
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<div>Heute bin ich 34 Jahre alt, aber mein Aktivitätsniveau ist niedriger als das eines durchschnittlichen 90-Jährigen. Ich bin zu 100% an meine Wohnung gebunden und verbringe die meiste Zeit des Tages im Bett, unfähig, mich selbst zu versorgen oder grundlegende Aufgaben wie Duschen oder Essen zubereiten ohne fremde Hilfe zu bewältigen.
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<div>Das belastendste Symptom von ME ist die postexertionale Malaise (PEM), ein Zustand, bei dem jede Form von körperlicher, geistiger oder emotionaler Anstrengung zu einer extremen Verschlechterung der Symptome führt. Einfache Aktivitäten wie das Hören von Geräuschen, das Organisieren einer Einkaufsliste oder einfach das Verdauen von Nahrung können dies auslösen. Während eines „Crashs“ erleide ich schwere Symptome wie unkontrollierbares Zittern, Muskelkrämpfe, Atemnot, Sehverlust und gefährliche Herzfrequenzschwankungen. Diese Episoden erfordern oft dringende medizinische Interventionen und treten in schlimmen Phasen täglich auf.
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<div>In den letzten 30 Monaten hat mir ME fast alles genommen:
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<li>Ich musste meine Arbeit als Gründer eines DeepTech-Wissenschaftskommunikations-Startups aufgeben
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<li>Ich habe mein Studium pausiert und viele bedeutende Verbindungen zu Menschen verloren
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<li>Mein Herz und meine Aorta sind aufgrund einer COVID-19-Infektion von 2022 beschädigt; folge der Infektion sind auch chronische Reaktivierungen vom Epstein-Barr-Virus und CMV
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<div>Zusätzlich zu ME leide ich unter Komorbiditäten wie dem <strong>Mastzellaktivierungssyndrom</strong> (MCAS) und dem hyperadrenergen <strong>Posturalen Tachykardiesyndrom</strong> (POTS), was meine Situation noch unerträglicher macht.
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<div><strong>Warum ich Ihre Hilfe benötige</strong>
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<div>Das deutsche Gesundheitssystem deckt keine Diagnosen, Behandlungen oder Medikamente für ME ab. Dies ist ein systemisches Versagen, das über 600.000 Menschen in Deutschland und Millionen weltweit betrifft: "Patienten mit ME/CFS berichteten, dass sie überwiegend negative Erfahrungen im deutschen Gesundheits- und Sozialsystem gemacht haben (<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11553-024-01170-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quelle</a>)." Ohne sofortige Behandlung wird sich mein Zustand weiter verschlechtern, und ich fürchte, ein chronischer Pflegefall zu werden - oder Schlimmers.
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<div><strong>Deshalb bitte ich demütig um Ihre finanzielle Unterstützung, um mir eine Chance zu geben, zu heilen und mein Leben zurückzugewinnen.</strong>
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/85246449_1735243774222086_r.jpeg" width="100%" /><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/85246449_173524378420754_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><strong>Was die Mittel abdecken sollen </strong>
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<div>Das Finanzierungsziel von <strong>41.050 € </strong>wird für folgende kritische Behandlungen und Ausgaben verwendet:
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<div><strong>1. Sofortige medizinische Bedürfnisse (1.850 €):</strong>
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<li>Rückzahlung von medizinischen Schulden für Labortests und Diagnostik
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<li>Akute medizinische Hilfen (z. B. ein Gehstock und Notfallmedikamente), um mir zu helfen, mich ausreichend zu stabilisieren, um meine Wohnung wieder verlassen zu können
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<div><strong>2. Antivirale und monoklonale Antikörpertherapie (8.000 €):</strong>
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<li>Um meinen Körper von anhaltenden Infektionen zu befreien
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<li>Dazu gehört die Behandlung einer kleinen Knochennekrose
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<div><strong>3. Immunadsorption (25.200 €):</strong>
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<li>Eine Blutreinigung, um Autoantikörper zu entfernen, die meinen Zustand verschlechtern
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<li>Einschließlich Transportkosten
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<li>"Weitere nachhaltige Verbesserungen wurden in den Symptomen Müdigkeit, postexertionaler Malaise, Schmerz, kognitiven, autonomen und immunologischen Symptomen berichtet (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776224003302" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quelle</a>)."
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<div><strong>4. Kardio-MRTs (2.000 €):</strong>
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<li>Um die Heilung meines Herzens und meiner Aorta zu überwachen und gegebenenfalls Medikamente anzupassen
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<div><strong>5. Nachsorge und Medikamente (4.000 €):</strong>
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<li>Ein Jahr Nachsorge und notwendige Medikamente zur Unterstützung der Genesung
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/85246449_1735243995448042_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
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<div><strong>Warum Ihre Unterstützung wichtig ist </strong>
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<div>Vor ME widmete ich mein Leben der Verbesserung der Wissenschaftskommunikation. Als Journalist arbeitete ich an Geschichten, die soziale Initiativen hervorhoben, von der Unterstützung der Flüchtlingsbildung bis zur Förderung des Sports für behinderte Menschen. Meine Leidenschaft war es, Menschen mit Wissen zu befähigen, bessere Entscheidungen für eine besser Zukunft zu treffen.
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<div>Ich träume davon, zu dieser Mission zurückzukehren. Aber zuerst muss ich überleben. Ich brauche die Chance, zu heilen und die Kraft zurückzugewinnen, um wieder zur Welt beitragen zu können.
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<div>Ihre Spende – egal in welcher Höhe – kann einen unmittelbaren und dauerhaften Unterschied in meinem Leben machen. Wenn Sie finanziell nicht helfen können, kann auch das Teilen meiner Geschichte sehr hilfreich sein.
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<div>Vielen Dank von ganzem Herzen für Ihre Freundlichkeit, Ihr Mitgefühl und Ihre Unterstützung.
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<div>Mit Dankbarkeit, Michael
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