MEDICAL BILLS/NERVE DAMAGE HELP!

I am a very kind person who has been dealing with chronic pain for nearly ten years. My doctors told me my condition is 1-8000. I needs help to get to the Mayo Clinic to treat my nerve damage. If there is anything you can do to help I  would greatly appreciate it.


Here is my story:

My name is Faith Ivey and I am a survior of mulitple rapes and domestic violence. At eight years old, a stranger crept into my bed and molested me and was later chased out by my father, brandishing a rifle just to get him out of the house. When I was 24 I was held hostage for three days in a room after getting knocked unconcious by a stalker. I was finally able to escape by breaking a window and crawled through it, the left side of my face swollen and bloody from the abusive man - He said, "Since this is Alaska I could kill you and no one would ever know."

I suffered hearing loss from the attack as well as this terrible nerve damage. When I got to the police station one of the officers, instead of reassuring me of my safety, told me to get naked and took photos of me. Then he asked me if he could have sex with me. I ran to the medical clinic to get medical attention, expecting a rape kit, but they coldly turned me away, claming the x-ray machine was broken.

In Portland I was strong-armed by a  pimp and a sex-worker.  After being drugged I was kicked repeatedly on the bathroom floor, vomiting into a toilet while getting raped. There was blood everywhere.

Later, while living with an abusive roomate (didn't know he would be this way at the time or I would have never moved in) beat me repeatedly, and frequently stole my medicine causing me to go into seizure.

Then with the metal end of a heating-pad cord, whipped my face, over and over, worsening the nerve damage I have been suffering with since the attack in 2009.

Terrified, he ordered me to make him soup(HOT)which he threw at my face. It burned my face. I got a restrainging order on him.

Fearful that he would not respect it I took refuge in a friend's house who later verbally asaulted me and threw my belongings against the wall, out in the yard and at my face.

He made several advances toward me in order to sleep with me. Not honoring our friendship, he quickly changed. He would take my phone away from me and tried to control every aspect of my life: where I went, with whom I was allowed to speak, what I could wear and eat.

He even locked me out of the house from time to time just because he could. I am celibate but lived in fear between homelessness and his unwanted sexual advances. 

On my Dad's memorial I went back to my hometown to pay my respects and honor my Father's memory. I soon found out my mother was also ill. However, in my absence, my roomate at the time and his father spirited away many of my most valuable possessions, such as collectors items, keepsakes of sentimental value, and even my American bob tail CAT, Pepito, whom I rescued from an animal shelter the day before he was scheduled to be put down. That cat was my best friend.

Consequentially, since 2009, I have been living with and trying to manage nerve damage in my jaw. If anyone wants to hug me, whenever I shower, or even sleep on my side, it triggers excrutiating pain. Most of the time it just hurts all day like a hammer and a nail being driven into my cheek and gums. ALL DAY and NIGHT.

I have seen a dozen doctors and specialists and half a dozen dentists. I had three root canals that I paid for in cash and soon learned I didn't need them. It did not help any of my symptoms. It made my nerve damage worse and impacted my traumatic occlusion.

I never sought malpractice suites, rather, I kept reaching out to other doctors for a second opinion which lead me to North Dakota to eventually seek other forms of treatment at the Mayo Clinic (WHICH I HAVE NOT BEEN TO YET!!! THIS IS OVER A YEAR AGO).

My insurance only covers perscriptions but specialists and orthodontists charge for procedures which my insurance does not cover. Said doctors' treatments, plus, the care and expertise of clincians are VERY expensive.

I have BEEN paying with cash or credit since January 2015 on the braces with a lot of help from my godfather.

The financial burden is not affordable. I, myself, and my godfather have been helping to pay but our resources have been stretched so thin that it is now unmanagable even to pay for groceries or gas money for my godfather to get to and from work (he just got let go), and for me to get to my appointments.

The orthodontist  I am seeing said I am a one in 8,000 case (even more) and for that reason I am honestly scared about the outcome, worried about the cost and my ability to continue treatment to correct my traumatic occlusion/trip to MAYO for nerve damage.
With all of these symptoms, nerve damage, PTSD, et caetra, it's impossible to maintain employment while managing pain, both physical and psychiatric.

In addition to PTSD, nerve damage and severe anxiety, I am also facing knee surgery to repair, with my thigh muscle (my hamstring),  a disintegrated ACL. On top of that, I have arthritis in my hands and knees.

I would like to be able to go to the gym or even take leisurely walks to boost my endorphins.  This is important to me because I use to be athletic, outgoing and even came close to becoming a yoga instructor.

I managed a radio station in Alaska. I did assisted living. I helped the elderly, too frail or otherwise ill, with no family members to take care of them. I was a nanny to children. I was a teacher's aid. I even managed a few retail businesses. I promoted local musicians and artists at a venue that I ran all by myself. At heart I am helpful and thrive on my work ethic: serving others. 

At present, I am undergoing treatment in North Dakota. However, since living in North Dakota, I have experienced unwarranted distrust, and misdirected, facetious care, by one or two doctors in particular who struggle with their stereotypes against Native Peoples, myself being one-quarter /Native Alaskan. One docotor caused me to go into anaphylactic shock by prescribing at leat 12 different, unneeded psychotropic medications. 

I lack reliable transportation but I do my best to honor my appointments with doctors, and always reschedule courteously in advance whenever tranpostation isn't available. I NEED TO MAKE IT TO THE ONES ON THE 22 OF THIS MONTH, SEPTEMBER 2015. I don't know how I am going to do it if my godfather does not bring me.

So, a car would be nice but I couldn't  even drive it until my symtoms are under control.

Trying to manage the multiple rape-induced PTSD, and the anxiety induced by the sexual harassment and racism of both law enforcement and medical practitioners, on whom I am reliant for care, has caused me to live a life of fearfulness and isolation. I am not depressed I have PTSD.

I humble myself and I share my story realizing life is not easy for anyone and there are those even needier than I.

If you can find it in your heart to make a contribution that would hasten my full recovery and alleviate the financial stress, I would deeply appreciate it.

Continuing treatment to once regain my independence has drained my bank account, and the financial resources I once had. So, I am reaching out to the public for any help that might be provided to cover the cost of my therapy and ongoing search to mitigate the constant, facial pain with which I struggle, daily, on account of NERVE DAMAGE and PTSD.

With this money not only will I be able to afford to continue my therapy and seek out the best treatment for my illness and injuries, bringing me closer to full recovery, through modern medical science, holistic and natural disciplines (such as acupuncture, acupressure, ayurvedic medicine,  et al.), but I will also be able to devote myself to helping others who suffer and struggle with domestic violence, rape and PTSD, as a professional on-air counselor and/or in a private practice.

I aim to accomplish this by completing my college course work in human sexuality and broadcast journalism. I want to help people heal. I want to spread the word through media, on-air, speaking out and giving voice to victims who are all too often shamed and ignored. I want to bring to light, publicly, the psychology of sexual predators, so as to increase awareness in those who may relate and recognize, in themselves, their potential to objectify and sexualize women, children, men, and transgendered people, in the hopes that upon realization they might yearn, rather, for relationships that are meaningful and symbiotic and not abusive.

I would like to do public speaking in schools, junior highs, high schools,  junior colleges and universities, at women's groups, men's groups, shelters and even prisons.

But first things first! I must really focus on healing myself before I can heal others. I need to find a stable living situation. Please help with this. I need a roof over my head.

Give the gift that keeps on giving and don't feel guilty if you can't give a lot. I know that we all have our particulars to attend to but, please, keep in mind that every little bit counts.

I am truly greatful for your time, consideration and any financial support that you're able to give.

Sincerely,
Faith Ivey