Hello, my name is Nicole Barrick. I’m a registered nurse whose life changed dramatically after developing Long COVID and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in 2020.

Before becoming ill, I was working as an RN and living a normal, active life. After Long COVID, everyday tasks became incredibly difficult. Simple things like standing, maintaining a normal routine, or continuing my career suddenly became major challenges. Like thousands of others living with Long COVID, I am still searching for effective treatments and hope for recovery.

In 2023, I had the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial at UC San Diego studying the drug Vyvgart (efgartigimod) as a potential treatment for Long COVID POTS. During the trial, many participants - including those who had been severely limited by their illness - experienced life-changing improvements and began getting their lives back. Unfortunately, the trial was unexpectedly canceled, and many of us lost access to the treatment that had been helping.

As patient advocates, we spoke out about our experience, and thankfully our voices were heard. Researchers at Mount Sinai, working with collaborators at Yale University, are now taking the next crucial step to understand why some of us responded so well to the medication.

To move this research forward, they need samples from former trial participants like me. If researchers can identify the same immune patterns and response signals in enough of us, it could help support new clinical trials - or even a compassionate-use pathway that may restore access to treatment for participants.

Because of time constraints, I need to travel to New York City to participate in this research. Unfortunately, there is currently no funding available to cover travel costs for participants. I’m humbly asking for support to help offset the cost of:

• Round-trip airfare to New York City

• Two nights in a hotel

• Transportation between the airport and the clinic

Your support not only helps me get to New York, but also helps advance critical Long COVID research for the thousands of people still waiting for effective treatments - and hopefully one day a cure.

Thank you so much for reading, sharing, and supporting this effort!