Help Amy Recover

Hi, my name is Amy Grigg. I am a woodworker and woodturner specializing in fine hand made wooden boxes and bowls. I have been self employed for 15 years. My work has sold in galleries across the country and to individuals all over the world. I strive for the highest quality work with a simple aesthetic. I have a great passion for nature and dogs and working with wood.

As some of you who have followed me on social media know, I've been struggling with health issues for the better part of two years. After the death of my mother in November of 2016 the chronic fatigue, anxiety and depression I have long dealt with became increasingly worse and began effecting my ability to work. 

I was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyoidism in November of 2017 and had surgery to remove the tumor on my parathyroid in April of 2017. I had hoped that this tumor was the only thing causing my symptoms and that good health was soon to be mine.  






For a time after surgery, I did regain some energy but it didn't last. During these two years, I tried to accept that there were days or parts of days when I was just to weak and tired to work. I did the best I could and I got by (my father helped me pay bills a couple of times). 

I went on doctor prescribed food restrictive diets (I'm on a new one now) , took many different types of supplements (still do), had more tests than I can possibly count (and counting). I learned to cook for myself because I can't eat grains, dairy, soy, corn or any type of sugar. I became vigilant about prayer and meditation and tried many medications. I've really tried to do this on my own. 

My primary care doctor is also a functional medicine doctor and is well versed in autoimmune disorders. I don't show up for any autoimmune markers yet and I hope I can get better before I get worse. If I don't take care, I'm a good candidate for  Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimotos, Graves or any of the other autoimmune diseases that I already show symptoms of. 



These last two years my work life has been very unpredictable. I would work whenever I could, rarely making plans with friends because I needed to conserve energy. I would work any hour of the day or night if I had the energy because I never knew when I would have it again. It's been very stressful. I've missed opportunities to show my work in shows and galleries, turned down requests to teach and travel and cancelled many orders, some with long standing clients. 

Things are getting worse. For the past two months, it is the rare exception that I can work at all. I am no longer able to care for the home that I rent, be a good dog mom to Leo and Ripley or a reliable worker. 

I'm just worn out. The stress of continually failing to fulfill the basic requirements of my life is too much. I have have come to the conclusion that I need to simplify my life, significantly lower my daily demands, get some rest and take care of my health. I need to move, find good homes for my sweet dogs and go lay down somewhere. I need to rest and recover mentally, physically and emotionally. 

I have a good friend who has offed to let me stay with him for at least a few months. After that I will go to my friend Rosanna's, or Ashley's or any number of kind friends who know my current circumstances and have offered to put me up. While I am with them I will do my best to be of help to them however I am able.

My hope is that with some more tests and research and less stress we will figure out what is wrong. I need to rest.  I hope to regain my strength and vitality and return to woodworking. I really don't know what exactly the future has in store for me. I am wide open to possibilities. Maybe I will be well enough to come to your town and show you how I make bowls. All I know for certain is that my body is shutting down and I can't go on the way I have been. 

Being a person who has a very hard time asking for help, my solution was to sell my woodworking equipment to finance my recovery. It would be sad and stressful and fiscally challenging and if I get better I would have to try and rebuild my shop.

My next idea was that maybe I could get some help. I could store my equipment with a friend and see if I can make a come back. 

That would mean telling you some of the details of this hell I've been living. It would mean being vulnerable and honest and open. It would also mean believing in the possibility that people would want to help me. 

So here I am. It's still just me being me. I need help.

I think I can live off of around $1500 a month. That would include food, supplements, any travel involved and misc expenses like more medicine, tests, etc. I also need to fund the relocation of my equipment,( if this campaign is successful and I don't have to sell it). I figure that will cost about $800. I would love to take a year off but I think that's asking too much. I'm hoping for six months. That adds up to $9800. 

If by some miracle the campaign brings in more than the goal, I would have more time to recover and I could pay rent to the friends who are hosting me. If it goes beyond that then I will use any leftover money to help me get a shop set up again. 

I hope you will help and I hope I will get to thank you in person. If you can donate, that's wonderful. If you can't I would be very grateful for prayers and positive thoughts. Last time I asked for prayers, my chronic pain was lifted, it was truly incredible. 

Thank you for everything,

Amy

(all photos by Lindsay Stephany Lau)