My name is Kim Carroll, and I am raising money to assist with medical expenses for my best friend, Anita Silva.

Anita is a 49-year old single mother of two teenage boys. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2013. Her RA was well managed, and she was able to live a normal life until 2021. After acquiring covid multiple times, she went into a terrible RA flare and her health has steadily declined.

Earlier this year, in the midst of her health crisis, she lost her job of 18 years. In turn, she also lost her health care coverage at the time when she needed it most. She is in the process of being approved for disability so that she can apply for medical coverage, but the process has had issues and delays.

Around this time last year, she started having gastrointestinal (GI) issues as well. This has caused additional medical testing and expenses. During a cat scan for her GI issues, they discovered an issue with her kidney. She is now required to undergo surgery in December to address her kidney issue. Her RA treatments are on hold until this issue is addressed.

In the past two years her health has declined drastically. She lost 65 pounds; is often unable to keep food down; has had her knee drained several times due to inflammation; and has barely been able to walk or use her hands because of the pain. Her quality of life has been terrible, and she is often confined to her home in extreme pain. Walking around and doing normal everyday activities is becoming almost impossible for her.

Stress is a major contributor to RA flares, and she has had nothing but stress the last two years. I am hoping to try to ease some of her worries by raising money for her upcoming kidney surgery and any additional medical expenses that she incurs until her disability is approved and her health coverage kicks in.

Anita has always been the fun person with an awesome sense of humor and a contagious laugh. She is the first to ask how everyone else is doing even when she is at her worst. All she wants is to be able to feel good again so she can spend quality time with her two boys.

This is the season of giving so I hope my friends can find it in their hearts to contribute any amount to help my dear friend. No amount is too small. I thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness. Please help me to get my girl back!