Hi, we're No-Feet and Wifey McGee, and we could really use some help at the moment, both emotionally and financially.

Wifey already has an array of chronic illnesses that keep her from being able to work (fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, endometriosis, gastroparesis, etc.), and on Easter she had a fall where she injured her back, which will need further treatment. In addition, wifey had an endometriosis surgery in February where they did remove some tissue and she got officially diagnosed; and even with insurance, we have a large medical bill from that.

As for No-Feet, they recently developed gout (a particularly bad form of arthritis in the foot--yes, we recognize the irony) and has had to miss several days of work (they work in a warehouse), as well as going to urgent care twice for treatment and paying a $50 copay each time.

As if things weren't complicated enough, we recently had to switch to a new health insurance. Because of this Wifey is having to get reestablished at a new clinic, which takes time and a lot of appointments (although we think it'll honestly be a better clinic for her care than the one we used before). Each visit costs a copay (which is higher for specialists), and Wifey is being seen in physical therapy, gastroenterology, OBGYN, and internal medicine, and is on a waiting list for an EDS specialist. In addition to these appointments, Wifey is talking to her healthcare team about the possibility of gastric bypass surgery for the purpose of gastroparesis treatment. If that goes ahead, it will involve many consultations and educational classes before the surgery itself, and then an extended recovery period. The first step is to do another gastric emptying test, the longest she's had yet at 4 and a half hours. Wifey just can't wait to eat more yummy radioactive eggs! (Blech.)

Besides all of the above visit-related expenses, we have copays on many prescription medications, not to mention the expenses of the large array of over-the-counter medicine and non-medicine treatments (PT tools, heating pads, wrist braces, etc. etc.) needed to manage Wifey's conditions. These are the real hidden costs of chronic illness, which you never consider until it happens to you. We always say: it's expensive to be sick!

To be perfectly honest, we have no idea how we're going to pay for any of this... No-Feet's job earnings only barely cover non-medical bills like rent & heating, let alone all the medical bills and other expenses (like groceries) that are necessary to survive. For the past several months, we've just been racking up credit card debt while hoping No-Feet can find a new, better-paying job. But the job hunt has so far been fruitless, with rejection after rejection, and we're dangerously close to the credit limit on our credit card. So it feels like we're out of time.

Anyway, this is our busy healthcare filled life! If you want to know more about anything discussed here, please feel free to ask; we are very open and honest abut our experiences. We're truly amazed at any assistance you are able and willing to offer us, whether it's words of encouragement, prayers, or financial help. Your support proves that there are wonderful, caring people in this world, and that means a lot! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading our story!