Maria's Medical Bills
Donation protected
Maria Leonard is an owner/operator of a local art studio that holds personal and group art lessons, HomeSchool Art classes as well as gallery space for artists to display their art for sell. She is very active in the community with fundraising art events, Davidson County Animal Alliance, Ginger's Fund, and any other fundraising event she can host to help others raise money for THEIR cause. As you can see, Maria helps everyone!!! She's always quickly jumped in wherever there was a need. Now, she NEEDS our help!!!
Below in her own words, she shares her health conditions, daily struggles and regimen of meds she takes every day:
I have autoimmune Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria, brought on by Graves Disease, Hashimatos and Rheumatoid arthritis. I've seen a total of 12 doctors/ specialists in the last 15 months, trying to get answers and fighting to get well. There have been many, many trips to the ER with my throat swelling shut, many miserable nights spent wishing the itching would subside and sleep would come, but there has been no relief. I'm on a very strong regiment of medications and have the specialists stumped because my body has not responded to the vigorous treatments. I currently take 18 prescription antihistamines a day with Prednisone, Cyclosporine and Xolair. The medicines have provided very little relief and have brought on some pretty serious side effects. The urticaria (hives) themselves are painful, they itch, burn and leave bruises where they stretch my skin so tight. Nothing brings relief. They bring with them extreme anxiety and depression. There are days that I can not get out of bed due to exhaustion and intense pain. I am blessed with a few days a month that I can function normally. I still try my best to get up and do all that I can every day. There have been many days that I put on a smile and handled business and at the end of the day had to have help getting to my car. This disease is debilitating in every way.
I was put out of work on July 5th by my doctors, because I have reached a level of exhaustion both mentally and physically that left me unable to perform my job. I had to fight my short term disability for approval, going through appeal process twice before they finally approved my time off work. This meant that I did not get paid for a month and a half. I exhausted my savings during that time trying to keep bills and doctors paid, unfortunately I could not keep up and I've fallen far behind on everything. I have tried all means possible to stay afloat, sold everything that was worth anything and tried my best to do whatever I could to catch up. It has been a struggle and I'm at a point that I know I need help. I never thought I would find myself in this situation and it was very hard for me to ask for help. Please know that any help is greatly appreciated and that every opportunity given to pass along the blessing, I will.
Thank you, Maria
Below are photos that may be a little unnerving, but I felt the need to show just how awful this is for her. The hives and meds have caused major swelling in her face to the point of anaphylactic shock and multiple visits to the ER. I cannot imagine being in this much distress and needing to get medical attention without the money to pay for the doctor visit. Thank you in advance for any help that you are able to give.
Below in her own words, she shares her health conditions, daily struggles and regimen of meds she takes every day:
I have autoimmune Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria, brought on by Graves Disease, Hashimatos and Rheumatoid arthritis. I've seen a total of 12 doctors/ specialists in the last 15 months, trying to get answers and fighting to get well. There have been many, many trips to the ER with my throat swelling shut, many miserable nights spent wishing the itching would subside and sleep would come, but there has been no relief. I'm on a very strong regiment of medications and have the specialists stumped because my body has not responded to the vigorous treatments. I currently take 18 prescription antihistamines a day with Prednisone, Cyclosporine and Xolair. The medicines have provided very little relief and have brought on some pretty serious side effects. The urticaria (hives) themselves are painful, they itch, burn and leave bruises where they stretch my skin so tight. Nothing brings relief. They bring with them extreme anxiety and depression. There are days that I can not get out of bed due to exhaustion and intense pain. I am blessed with a few days a month that I can function normally. I still try my best to get up and do all that I can every day. There have been many days that I put on a smile and handled business and at the end of the day had to have help getting to my car. This disease is debilitating in every way.
I was put out of work on July 5th by my doctors, because I have reached a level of exhaustion both mentally and physically that left me unable to perform my job. I had to fight my short term disability for approval, going through appeal process twice before they finally approved my time off work. This meant that I did not get paid for a month and a half. I exhausted my savings during that time trying to keep bills and doctors paid, unfortunately I could not keep up and I've fallen far behind on everything. I have tried all means possible to stay afloat, sold everything that was worth anything and tried my best to do whatever I could to catch up. It has been a struggle and I'm at a point that I know I need help. I never thought I would find myself in this situation and it was very hard for me to ask for help. Please know that any help is greatly appreciated and that every opportunity given to pass along the blessing, I will.
Thank you, Maria
Below are photos that may be a little unnerving, but I felt the need to show just how awful this is for her. The hives and meds have caused major swelling in her face to the point of anaphylactic shock and multiple visits to the ER. I cannot imagine being in this much distress and needing to get medical attention without the money to pay for the doctor visit. Thank you in advance for any help that you are able to give.
Organizer and beneficiary
Leslie Leonard Norris
Organizer
Lexington, NC
Maria Leonard
Beneficiary
