Nicole's Health Crisis: Urgent Aid Needed

Hello. Thank you for taking the time to read this desperate plea for help.

To those of you who don't already know me, my name is Nicole. I am a 41-year-old single parent of a 12-year-old girl. I was born physically disabled, but over the past ten years or so, I have been increasingly sick, with constant unexplained medical conditions, many of which were life-threatening. I have been consistently treated in emergency rooms and by a total of 22 different specialists multiple times monthly for the past decade.

My primary source of income is SSD. With the increasing costs of living, my monthly check is only paying for my rent. I relied on food stamps and medical assistance to support our household, and because of illness and allergies, I have often had to reach out for help to family and friends as well.

In November of 2024, my symptoms reached a new height, and I was finally correctly diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, ankylosing spondylitis. In the past 10 years, I have been misdiagnosed a total of 44 times, allowing my AS to progress to end-stage seriousness. Both of my hands have begun to resorb themselves. I am unable to function at all any time it rains due to migraines, my autoimmune disorder, and liver failure. I currently have 13 medical specialists. At the beginning of this year, I was informed that for reasons that have not yet been determined, my liver appears to be in stage 4 cirrhosis. I had begun to take autoimmune medicine and have had to stop because the side effects were too overwhelming and dangerous for my body. The stopping of this medication is indefinite, and the symptoms of my illnesses have rapidly increased, and liver function has decreased.

In Autumn of last year, I was in my third semester pursuing a degree in computer forensics and digital security, so I would be able to find employment to support my household entirely on my own. I have had to take a break as I am physically unable to do the most mundane of tasks multiple days a week with no advanced warning.

Whenever able, I had been driving delivery services to make ends meet. Due to health issues, I was never able to drive more than two to three days a week, generating at the most about 200 dollars a week in income for all the needs of the household other than rent and groceries. In February of this year, the Department of Human Services cut my food stamps with no notice and no just cause. After a three-month fight in which they psychologically tormented me, they reinstated my food stamps at a fourth of the previous amount, enough to buy about a week's worth of groceries, and as of the last day of this month, I will no longer have medical insurance. I informed them I was no longer able to work at all, and they informed me I have to be without any outside income for at least 30 days for them to even begin the process for any changes.

My vehicle broke down this week, leaving me without any way to generate any income other than my disability check, which is the exact amount of my monthly rent. I had been unable to drive for two weeks prior to my vehicle breaking down due to two weeks of daily thunderstorms, which render me incapacitated. When my vehicle died, I had 8 dollars in my bank account.

I will need to have my vehicle repaired in order to get to doctor's appointments, visit food banks, and possibly drive to generate income when I am physically able. I will need to pay for the majority of my medical appointments and any medications or procedures I will need. These procedures and specialists are in the thousands per visit. I will require a liver biopsy, endoscopy, some form of liver dialysis, and alternative treatments for my advanced autoimmune disorder immediately to increase my short-term and long-term chances of survival.

I intend to continue to work as much as I can when I am able, but at this point, I am completely unable without access to my vehicle. Something as simple as walking to the bathroom is challenging enough on most days, particularly in the Spring when it rains nearly every day.

Anything you can contribute to my goal, to help support my household, pay for car repairs, and cover necessities and medical expenses for the next few months until I am able to grasp control of my illnesses and generate income of my own again would be greatly appreciated. I know that times are challenging for everyone right now, and any little bit you may be able to spare to make life more peaceful and manageable, in particular for my child who is feeling the ramifications of this situation, would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for reading. If you are unable to contribute, please consider sharing.

Nicole