Edit 3/2/25: We are absolutely blown away by the outpouring of love and support for Rachel! ❤️ In less than a day, we reached our goal to purchase her electric wheelchair ( I added a pic in the photos :) )—something that will truly change her daily life. Because of your generosity, we’ve increased the goal to help her family tackle the overwhelming medical debt that has weighed on them for years.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Your kindness, empathy, and generosity mean more than words can express, and our family will never forget it.

Many of my friends and family know that my sister, Rachel, has been facing serious health challenges for the past four years. After countless visits to UW and Mayo, she was diagnosed with erythromelalgia, a neurovascular peripheral pain disorder. In her case, excessive blood flow to her feet causes severe, painful flares. She also suffers from bone marrow edema, where her bones feel as if they are "splitting." Years of limited mobility have led to severe hip and knee pain due to muscle atrophy.

Rachel's condition was triggered by an immune system reaction to the Pfizer COVID vaccine. On top of that, she has experienced significant vision loss and has been receiving eye injections in hopes of preserving enough sight to maintain some independence. Most recently, she has developed bilateral hand pain, including trigger finger in her thumbs and carpal tunnel, both of which will require surgeries over the next two months. We’re hopeful she’ll recover in time to begin pool therapy to rebuild her muscles—and enjoy some summer fun with her kids!

Her children and family time with Andrew mean everything to her, which brings me to why I’m reaching out. Rachel desperately needs her own electric wheelchair. She has been fortunate to borrow one from a wonderful friend, which has helped her immensely, but now it's time to return it. The model that works best for her has tires suited for navigating local parks, playgrounds, the zoo, and even the hill at the pool that her kids love—all places that aren’t always easily accessible.

When managing chronic pain while raising a family, quality of life matters. As kids, when Rachel’s diabetes was our biggest concern, my mom would always say, “It takes a village.” That has never felt more true. Many of you have asked how you can help Rachel and her family, and this would be an incredible way to make a real difference in her daily life.

We are deeply grateful for any support you can offer, whether through a contribution or simply sending positive thoughts. Thank you all for being part of Rachel’s village.