My name is Nicole, and I’m reaching out for help for myself and my children. A few years ago, we took a leap of faith and bought my childhood home, excited to give my kids the chance to grow up where both their grandma and I did. We knew it would be a challenge, but we were determined to make it work. Just eight weeks after moving in, everything changed. We all caught the Delta variant of COVID-19, and my body reacted in ways no one could have predicted. Within days, I started losing feeling throughout my body, and soon I couldn’t walk, move my hands properly, or care for my kids the way I wanted to. I spent months in and out of hospitals, undergoing every test imaginable, but doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I lost my ability to work, and as the months dragged on, I had to rely on credit cards just to get by. My health continued to decline, and eventually, I even lost all my teeth due to rapid bone degeneration.

Three years into this journey, I woke up one morning paralyzed on the left side of my body. That finally led to a nine-day hospital stay, where after brain and spine taps, doctors discovered active lesions in my brain and spine that caused the paralysis. It turned out that my very first brain scan—done when I first asked for help—had been marked as fine by a doctor, but it was actually not fine at all. The doctors told me it had shown signs of Multiple Sclerosis from the beginning. Now, I know I will never have a normal functioning body again, as there is no cure for MS. I will need infusions every 28 days for the rest of my life, and these treatments are what keep me stable enough to care for my children. With the right support, I hope to eventually work from home once our house is safe and organized enough for me to move freely without risk of falling.

Now, after years of fighting to get answers and trying to hold everything together, I’m facing overwhelming debt, ongoing medical expenses, and a home that still isn’t safe or fully set up for my family. I need monthly infusions, rides to countless doctor’s appointments, and help making our home safe with railings and professional cleaning. My children and I also need basic things like food and warm clothes as winter approaches. I’ve waited a long time to ask for help, feeling embarrassed and stubborn, but I can’t do this alone anymore. I want to give my kids the safe, stable home they deserve and get the treatments I need to hopefully get better.

I know so many people are going through difficult times right now, and asking for help—especially such a large amount—has not been easy. I want you to know that I have carefully calculated what’s needed for only the essentials: medical care, the debt from all of this, home safety, and basic needs for my children and me. There is nothing extra included, no savings or unnecessary expenses—just what it will take to start at zero and give us a real chance to rebuild. Any support you can give would mean the world to us and help us get back on our feet.

***EDIT- I lowered the amount due to only 1 donation in 12 days. Also I absolutely realize it is still an insane amount to ask for. Yet I 100% wouldn't have made this nor shared all this information with complete strangers. If it wasnt necessary for my health and my children and mines life. At this point if I can get some of my necessary medical needs, a little bit of debt paid and at least the one biggest saftey concern in our home addressed. It would still dramatically change our life and give me a chance to at least stay healthy as I can and start making my second income from home again! I just wanted to be completely transparent where funds would go to now and that it would not bring me to zero like originally stated. Yet absolutely still be more than a miracle, to get the medical attention I need and be able to get back that second income from home. Like I had before I could no longer do it due to saftey. Thank you for any support and your time.