help this Mountain Mermaid with Medical Expenses

Hi friends, it's your favorite mountain mermaid Alena here.

2023 has been a challenging year for me due to being diagnosed with autoimmune hyperthyroidism (Graves Disease) as well as thyroid eye disease (TED). Even though I have tried to make the best of it by wearing a smile, showing up in costume, and still being playful and have decent insurance, this health crisis has had a major impact on my quality of life by causing depression & anxiety, extreme fatigue, proptosis (bulging eyes) and severe double vision. The double vision can be completely debilitating and I have had to miss work on occasion.

I have had to see many doctors and specialists, get poked and have bloodwork done, introduce medication & supplements and I started an iv steroid regime. The bills are beginning to add up and I don't know how I am going to be able to pay them all. Especially if I need to try other treatments (such as tepezza for TED which is around $30,000) or seek other help options, which I may have to do as both Graves and TED are very difficult to treat.

I have had 6 of 12 steroid treatments which I do believe are helping - and currently owe around $4000 for them and then I have 6 more left. With the new year and new deductibles, it's going to cost around $3000 out of pocket just for the first one and then 5 each additional treatments that average around $800 each.

I work a full time job, and had picked up a part-time one that was slowly helping me get ahead, but I was laid off and have yet to be able to fill in that additional income amount, small as it might have been.

I know that everyone has their struggles and that mine are not unique. However, I could really use some help from my large community of people.

I have often contributed to fundraising needs of others when I have been able to and now I am asking for your help. If you happen to find yourself with a little bit of extra finances right now, it would mean the world to me if you might find it in yourself to donate to this campaign.

All funds will go to help pay my rising medical bills as I navigate this difficult phase of my life. Any amount helps as small amounts add up over time.

With love and hope for healing,

Alena

PS: if you’d like to receive a handmade thank you for your contribution please make sure I know where to send it.