On December 1st, I became ill with a high fever, cough, sore throat, and fatigue. The following week I went to an urgent care 3 times and received 3 different diagnoses, none of which could explain my high fevers.  On, December 11th I went to a Doctor in the Mount Sinai Health System who really took the time to try to figure out what was going on.  She ran every blood test she could think of.  The following day she called me at home and recommended I go to the hospital. I was admitted that evening and stayed in the hospital until December 21st. While in the hospital I began to run the highest fevers I had experienced, maxing out at 107.5.  I was diagnosed first with CMV, a virus that many adults carry without symptoms but which was causing major problems for me because my immune system is compromised from Crohn's disease and the medicines I take to treat it.  I was also later diagnosed with Parvovirus in addition to the CMV.  Parvovirus usually only affects children, but in my case my weakened immune system allowed it to develop into a fever and rash.

Having  been sick all month, I have been unable to work all of December.  Coupled with the unexpected costs of a hospital stay and many trips to doctor's offices, I am completely broke.  I was very late paying my rent in December, and I have no idea how I'm going to be able to afford January's rent which is due at the start of the month. I will be on treatment for the CMV for another 10 days after which I should hopefully be able to return to work, but in the meantime I really need help paying my bills.  If you can possibly spare anything, I would be extremely grateful.