Spende geschützt
This has been an ongoing journey of fear, confusion, pain, multiple doctors, very few answers, and all the while trying to navigate life as a young professional barely able to work.

Nicole has had an unknown, painful condition for about 6 years. Her symptoms range from allodynia, in which every touch feels painful, to headaches, to literally tearing tendons while standing still. I’ve known a lot of people with chronic health conditions, and all of them present differently, but Nicole’s case is particularly unique. She has symptoms of an autoimmune disease, but no inflammation markers in tests. She’s had a range of diagnoses, from lyme disease to fibromyalgia, which have all been overturned. She’s seen specialists I’ve never even heard of, but no one has any answers, and it seems like quite a few of them see her as a problem they’d like to hand off to someone else – but they’ll still charge hundreds of dollars for the privilege. This isn’t all the fault of the doctors. Some of them truly want to help, but are stumped by someone who doesn’t seem to fit neatly into a box. Sometimes they’re tied up by bureaucratic red tape. But all the while her symptoms are getting worse. As someone from a country in which most medicine is publicly funded, it amazes me that such expensive healthcare can be so ineffective.


But Nicole isn’t just a problem for an uncaring, overly bureaucratic healthcare system. She’s a person – a warm, funny, generous and incredibly strong person. I’ve only known her for two months, but already she’s important to me. And I’ve been helping out while she deals with not only a level of pain no one should ever have to feel, but also some really difficult insurance BS. I honestly don’t know if I could cope with this. Sometimes she doesn’t. But no matter how difficult it gets, Nicole always finds a way to push through and come out the other side.
It seems like finally we’re getting somewhere in terms of diagnosis. Nicole now has a wonderful neurologist (I’ve met her and she really cares and wants to help), who believes that while there’s also an underlying, possibly autoimmune condition, a lot of her symptoms are actually related to severe migraine. Migraine explains a lot of what’s going on – the allodynia, headaches, brain fuzziness, even some symptoms she didn’t even realise were symptoms, like aura. So finally, one piece of the puzzle that is Nicole’s body might be falling into place. She has a referral to a headache specialist, and hopefully will be able to get some of this under control. She also needs to see about six other specialists, who can all (hopefully) work together to figure out what’s going on, and how to manage it.
The truth is, there might never be a definitive diagnosis. And there probably won’t be a cure. But if she can get effective treatment and management of pain and symptoms, I know Nicole will be able to get on with her life, and keep contributing to the lives of the people around her. One of the most remarkable things about her is that she seems to be able to handle just about anything life throws at her, as long as she has hope. It only takes one tiny thing to hold on to, whether it’s a doctor who takes an interest, or a possibility of diagnosis, or a new drug helping even a little bit, and she pulls herself together and puts on a brave face. Nicole is 100% willing to do the work to manage her condition. But she can’t do it alone. She’s going to need a team of knowledgeable and caring medical professionals, and a supportive network of friends and family.
Testimonials:
You know the healthcare system is broken when a GoFundMe is the only hope to pay for your medical bills, even when your 29-year old body is wracked with pain, destroying your nervous system from the inside, and you are physically unable to earn an income.
I've watched Nicole's illness develop since 2010, when her tremors and mental lapses first began. Since then, it's been a steady battle against her own body and the doctors that are incapable of diagnosing her illness at the financial level she's insured for. Diagnosis and treatment requires several specialists that are simply out of reach for her.
Ironically, the biggest heartbreak from watching this from the outside is Nicole's incessant optimism, the face she puts on for her friends and family that says "Don't worry, I'll be OK!" Behind the humor and positive attitude, she is not OK. A life of chronic pain, immobility, and psychological/emotional stress is not acceptable for a young, vibrant, hilarious, intelligent woman who has so much to offer the world, and for whom a diagnosis is so close but just barely out of reach. A mountain of pain meds is not the answer. Please, let's help her with her medical bills and get her on a path to treatment.
~Lucy Fitzgerald

Nicole is a magnetic, fun, and energetic spirit. She never lets her condition stop her from achieving her goals and pursuing her dreams. I am her good friend and it pains me to see her stopped in her journey to recovery due to financial obstacles and barriers within our medial system. This is a person who works hard and needs help to over come an obstacle that life has handed her. She always has an amazing attitude and lifts up those around her. She is so resourceful and has been through so much, but she always makes the most of what she has and proves time and time again she can continue to add to the world around her and spread joy. Her creative spirit shouldn't be stifled by her medical disability and I strongly support and graciously thank anyone who can help during this time of need!
~Sofia Dray
Nicole has had an unknown, painful condition for about 6 years. Her symptoms range from allodynia, in which every touch feels painful, to headaches, to literally tearing tendons while standing still. I’ve known a lot of people with chronic health conditions, and all of them present differently, but Nicole’s case is particularly unique. She has symptoms of an autoimmune disease, but no inflammation markers in tests. She’s had a range of diagnoses, from lyme disease to fibromyalgia, which have all been overturned. She’s seen specialists I’ve never even heard of, but no one has any answers, and it seems like quite a few of them see her as a problem they’d like to hand off to someone else – but they’ll still charge hundreds of dollars for the privilege. This isn’t all the fault of the doctors. Some of them truly want to help, but are stumped by someone who doesn’t seem to fit neatly into a box. Sometimes they’re tied up by bureaucratic red tape. But all the while her symptoms are getting worse. As someone from a country in which most medicine is publicly funded, it amazes me that such expensive healthcare can be so ineffective.

But Nicole isn’t just a problem for an uncaring, overly bureaucratic healthcare system. She’s a person – a warm, funny, generous and incredibly strong person. I’ve only known her for two months, but already she’s important to me. And I’ve been helping out while she deals with not only a level of pain no one should ever have to feel, but also some really difficult insurance BS. I honestly don’t know if I could cope with this. Sometimes she doesn’t. But no matter how difficult it gets, Nicole always finds a way to push through and come out the other side.
It seems like finally we’re getting somewhere in terms of diagnosis. Nicole now has a wonderful neurologist (I’ve met her and she really cares and wants to help), who believes that while there’s also an underlying, possibly autoimmune condition, a lot of her symptoms are actually related to severe migraine. Migraine explains a lot of what’s going on – the allodynia, headaches, brain fuzziness, even some symptoms she didn’t even realise were symptoms, like aura. So finally, one piece of the puzzle that is Nicole’s body might be falling into place. She has a referral to a headache specialist, and hopefully will be able to get some of this under control. She also needs to see about six other specialists, who can all (hopefully) work together to figure out what’s going on, and how to manage it.
The truth is, there might never be a definitive diagnosis. And there probably won’t be a cure. But if she can get effective treatment and management of pain and symptoms, I know Nicole will be able to get on with her life, and keep contributing to the lives of the people around her. One of the most remarkable things about her is that she seems to be able to handle just about anything life throws at her, as long as she has hope. It only takes one tiny thing to hold on to, whether it’s a doctor who takes an interest, or a possibility of diagnosis, or a new drug helping even a little bit, and she pulls herself together and puts on a brave face. Nicole is 100% willing to do the work to manage her condition. But she can’t do it alone. She’s going to need a team of knowledgeable and caring medical professionals, and a supportive network of friends and family.
Testimonials:
You know the healthcare system is broken when a GoFundMe is the only hope to pay for your medical bills, even when your 29-year old body is wracked with pain, destroying your nervous system from the inside, and you are physically unable to earn an income.
I've watched Nicole's illness develop since 2010, when her tremors and mental lapses first began. Since then, it's been a steady battle against her own body and the doctors that are incapable of diagnosing her illness at the financial level she's insured for. Diagnosis and treatment requires several specialists that are simply out of reach for her.
Ironically, the biggest heartbreak from watching this from the outside is Nicole's incessant optimism, the face she puts on for her friends and family that says "Don't worry, I'll be OK!" Behind the humor and positive attitude, she is not OK. A life of chronic pain, immobility, and psychological/emotional stress is not acceptable for a young, vibrant, hilarious, intelligent woman who has so much to offer the world, and for whom a diagnosis is so close but just barely out of reach. A mountain of pain meds is not the answer. Please, let's help her with her medical bills and get her on a path to treatment.
~Lucy Fitzgerald
Nicole is a magnetic, fun, and energetic spirit. She never lets her condition stop her from achieving her goals and pursuing her dreams. I am her good friend and it pains me to see her stopped in her journey to recovery due to financial obstacles and barriers within our medial system. This is a person who works hard and needs help to over come an obstacle that life has handed her. She always has an amazing attitude and lifts up those around her. She is so resourceful and has been through so much, but she always makes the most of what she has and proves time and time again she can continue to add to the world around her and spread joy. Her creative spirit shouldn't be stifled by her medical disability and I strongly support and graciously thank anyone who can help during this time of need!
~Sofia Dray
Organisator und Spendenbegünstigter
Amanda Jacobson
Organisator
Minneapolis, MN
Nicole Edry
Spendenbegünstigte