Hi my name is Ruth I am 26. Since I was 8 I have been living with what is now diagnosed as Geniculate Neuralgia. GA is a very rare nerve disorder that causes all types of deep inner ear pain ranging from mild to debilitating. In some cases dull and burning pain occurs at the site of the ear and in others, like myself, sharp shooting electric shocks. I can only describe this pain as if someone were to stab a knife into your deep inner ear randomly. The pain going away within seconds as quickly as it came on. Between(8-20 years) these quick instances of debilitating pain would last for only 1-3 seconds. It would most certainly make me stop dead in my tracks no matter what I was doing, but it would always go away. Only occurring once every year or so, it was something I could live with. Flash forward to 2015 and the pain began occurring more frequently, a few times a year, than a few times a month. I began seeking help for my pain as I had no other option. I went to many different doctors, so many emergency rooms and specialists appts. No one knew what was wrong with me. A few times I was diagnosed with muscle spasms and was told to take psychical therapy which I did, to no avail. In the end of 2019 I had switched doctors for what seemed like the 10th time and this Doctor had referred me to a neurologist for the first time after hearing my symptoms. I was then diagnosed with what I know now as Geniculate Neuralgia. It felt like a breakthrough to finally know what was wrong with me. Immediately my neurologist put me on medications for GA. The treatment for GA is not singular as there is no known cure. Most GA sufferers take a cocktail of different anti seizure medications which I myself am on. Others try surgical procedures, for example gamma knife or MVD. I have tried many different medications all ending up not working down the road. For this reason I sought out the help from an amazing neurosurgeon who specializes in this disorder as well as the surgery. After multiple appointments with him I have been approved for surgery and have been told I am a great candidate for a PAIN FREE outcome. This pain I’ve lived with for so long now has caused me to have an anxiety and depression disorder and it has at many points diminished my quality of life. This all bringing me to the reason I am here today, my medical insurance, cost for my monthly medications, many doctors appointments and the cost for my surgery alone have put a huge burden on me financially. Any help at all would be so greatly appreciated. I wish I didn’t have to ask at all, and I appreciate anyone for just reading this passage. Thank you so much.