Jess Smith needs our help

My friend Jess is a wonderful mother and friend. Like so many out there, she has fallen on tough times.

Most recently, she has been hospitalized with one kidney already known to be in complete failure and the other showing signs of damage, possibly the result of her Essure procedure, a device which was taken off the market due to wreaking havoc on the bodies of thousands of women and has left her disabled due to chronic medical issues, and in pain for the past 11 years.

Before this she was gainfully employed and could afford to take care of her kids as a single mother, but has since lost three jobs due to being too sick to work. Her disability claim was denied, and her lawyer does not believe that her upcoming appeal will be successful.

This current job allows her to work from home and manage her comfort level as needed in order to continue working through the pain so that she can do her best to support her children. She is also a gifted artist and creates beautiful work that is made available for sale, but altogether she struggles to make ends meet and even the smallest of setbacks is financially devastating.

An essential auto repair has already set her back and she has been trying to sell personal possessions and heavily discounting her art in an attempt to meet her financial obligations, but still hadn’t been able to catch up before this hospitalization.

Having already been treated for an infection in her good kidney the week of Christmas, on Friday she had emergent symptoms and returned to the hospital for further treatment and was admitted. Her condition is considered to be an emergency, and she is waiting to be seen and tested by specialists to determine next steps and treatment. We do not know exactly how long she will be there, meanwhile bills continue to be due and her employer has told her not to work from the hospital, but she is terrified to run out of paid time off and lose this job as well - to lose everything.

I have never known her to not be in pain, yet she is always cheerful and positive. She is incredibly kind and always thinking of others, and would do anything in her power to help someone - today she needs help. Please consider giving what you can.