Melissa's Medical Expenses

First, if you're here, thank you. ♥  It’s been 8 years since I first got sick. The HPV vaccine severely damaged my immune system in 2010. As a result, it unleashed a plethora of illnesses on my body. Sick within 24 hours after the first shot, I never got better. I was diagnosed with Late Stage Lyme Disease, multiple co-infections, and Autonomic Nervous System damage at the end of 2016.  POTS in 2018.  And many other illnesses along the way. Eight long years, I have been fighting with all my energy and resources to heal. 

I was forced to stop working in early 2017. I got a PICC line (an IV catheter) in my arm that has been so helpful in stabilizing me, but I have a long ways to go and my improvement requires ongoing treatment of many different types. It all costs money. Lots of money. My medical treatment costs range from 4k-8k a month.  




I have reached my health insurance out of pocket maximum the last 3 years. As you can see, I use in network services as much as possible, but many of my treatments and my main doctors (who see me for 2-6 hours at a time) are not covered by insurance. For those costs, I used my own money, my savings (over 100k), to survive these last 2 years. Now I need help.

I have patiently waited for Long Term Disability to come through, but it keeps getting DENIED - I feel like they’re playing games with me.  I’m exhausted.  Emotionally, mentally, physically, financially. My medical debt and bills are significantly rising with the new year. I am appealing the LTD decision, this time with the help of a lawyer, but that takes both time and money due to the complexity of my illnesses.  Even when LTD is approved, the monthly amount won’t fully cover my medical expenses.

Anything you can offer - a dollar, a share, a shout out - helps. Please share it, even if you cannot donate. And then re-share it next month. Fundraising is an ongoing effort, and this won’t be successful without help from many people getting the word out. I hate being so vulnerable. I used to pride myself on being able to take care of myself. Now I feel exposed and scared. But I also have faith. In you. In my body. In strangers that I will never meet.

Honest financials:

-I made no money in 2018 aside from a tax refund of some sort.  After a year of holding my job, my job had to let me go.
-I live by myself. Living with family/friends is not a good choice due to my current neurological challenges.  They do come over often to take care of me.
-I pay $800/mo for COBRA because my health insurance is actually pretty good.  In talking with other ill friends, many actually pay MORE than I do as independents.
-My friends and family have been helping me behind the scenes before a gofundme was suggested.
-I used to have over 100k in my savings.  It pains me to say, it’s gone.
-Before this I had ZERO debt (I paid off my student loans and car early. I have or HAD great credit). I estimate I am about 50k in debt now - the majority of which is owed to doctors, labs or medical establishments.
-I don’t eat out often. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. I don’t party.
-I use the gym at my apartment to try to do my physical therapy exercises instead of paying for physical therapy right now.
-I love the mountain and on occasion I go to snowboard. That’s a splurge for me. Yes my doctors warn me to be especially careful but they also realize the positive mental benefits and how important that is in healing so they actually support it. Note: Yes I can snowboard down a hill but then cannot stand still straight up for 10 minutes without being very sick. If you understand my illnesses, you’ll understand why that makes sense.
-Often other splurges are paid for by people who care about me (I’m grateful), such as pedicures with my girlfriends or coffee with my sister.  But I’m human.  So sometimes I treat myself to Starbucks.  It is important to treat yourself from time to time, no matter your financial situation.  It’s good for the soul and your money mindset. 
-I want to work and make my own money again, but I cannot successful right now. I’ve tried my entrepreneurial spirit on countless times since I’ve been sick.  Anytime I’ve gotten momentum, my illnesses have derailed my progress and I fall significantly behind to the point where I have to start over.  Healing takes most of my energy.  
-I am trying to “Marie Kondo” my house and SELL anything and everything I can on fb marketplace.  Also, if you live in Northern Virginia and want to donate some things for me to sell, that’s another way you could help.  Thank you to my sister in law for this idea.  


That’s my situation in a nutshell.  It’s a lot so I am asking for your help. Please share this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Melissa. ♥