Mayo Clinic: A Lifeline for Our Future

My Journey to Diagnosis and Hope at the Mayo Clinic

While I was born here in Muskegon, my childhood involved a lot of moving around. It wasn't until I turned 18 that I returned to Muskegon with my girlfriend to build our life together. We worked hard, saved diligently, and eventually moved to Allendale for my college studies, full of optimism for the future. Sadly, that bright future was soon clouded by the onset of a debilitating illness.

Shortly after settling into college, I began experiencing symptoms that gradually worsened. Despite being incredibly happy with my job at the GVSU chemistry labs and our new life, my body started to betray me. What began as persistent fatigue escalated into breathlessness, fainting spells, excruciating bone pain, kidney stones, and a baffling rash. Simple tasks became monumental efforts, and eventually, climbing even a single flight of stairs became impossible without significant breaks.

For months, we navigated countless doctor visits and hospital stays, searching for answers. Diagnoses ranged from Lyme disease to fibromyalgia, but none truly fit. It wasn't until I insisted on a biopsy of the rash that we finally discovered the truth: vasculitis, a condition that in my case is severely aggravated by sunlight.

This diagnosis was just the beginning of a long and disheartening journey. I endured numerous mental health evaluations and medication trials, feeling lost and questioning my own sanity. The physical toll was immense, forcing me to leave my job at the chemistry lab. Adding to this already overwhelming situation was the lack of understanding and support from some family members. My doctor recommended a ground-floor apartment to accommodate my declining mobility. We received little assistance and ended up on the second floor, still an improvement from the third, but not the ground-level access I needed.

Adding to our heartache, our beloved dog passed away shortly after. While we were fortunate to welcome his brother and sister into our lives, our struggles continued with a difficult experience with our apartment complex. Despite clear agreements, we were given a roommate without prior notice, had our mail mishandled, and were ultimately slapped exorbitant fees while I was physically ill and without necessary medication.

Amidst this chaos, I was fortunate to reconnect with my father, who has been a much-needed source of support. I'm currently living with him, but after two grueling years of fighting this unknown autoimmune condition, my rheumatologist has offered a crucial lifeline: an acceptance to the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

This trip is our greatest hope for finally understanding and treating the root cause of my suffering. I yearn to return to the life I once had – from running to work to simply being able to play my guitar without agonizing pain. More than anything, I want to be a partner who can fully support my incredible girlfriend, who has stood by me through every devastating setback. Seeing her carry this burden alone breaks my heart.

After two years of relentless health battles and financial strain, affording this vital trip feels insurmountable. We've sold almost everything we owned just to stay afloat, leaving us with nothing to show for all of our hard work. Asking for help in this way is humbling, but I truly have no other resourse.

I am reaching out to our community with the deepest hope that you might consider supporting our journey to the Mayo Clinic. Every donation, no matter how small, will directly fund our travel, accommodation, food, and essential dog daycare for our two beloved companions.

If we are blessed enough to exceed our goal, any additional funds will be used to rebuild the life we've lost and address pressing needs first and foremost. We are not seeking extravagance, just the chance for answers and a path back to health and stability.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for reading our story and for any support you can offer. Your kindness could truly change our lives.

By no means do I expect to meet our goal just taking the time to read this means a lot to me.

I'm sorry if you are learning who I am through this......

(edit I realize I never stated when the appointment was for it will be May 27th for 3-5 days)