Polly Sumner's road to recovery from Long COVID

Dear Ones,

We are reaching out to the community for financial support for our sister Polly Sumner.

As many of you know, Polly is an incredibly strong, independent, and self-reliant person. In November 2021 she contracted COVID-19, when the powerful Delta variant was circulating. Unfortunately, the lasting effects of her initial infection and subsequent development of Long COVID Syndrome, have been crippling to many aspects of her life. There are good days, which means she can function at work for a few hours, or take a walk in the park. Then there are bad days that come out of nowhere. Even getting to the store to buy basics, or make lunch for her son, Sky, feel insurmountable.

There are numerous physical symptoms that are cyclic and persistent: debilitating fatigue, dizziness, heart rate swinging from 180 to 30 beats per minute, shortness of breath, brain fog, nausea and sound sensitivity. She has followed the advice of her Santa Barbara medical team, which is frankly limited as this disease is new. She has made necessary, restrictive but helpful modifications to the diet including a "low histamine" intake, and Kate Farms protein shakes. But it's just not been enough to get her back on track. As we write this today, she is in bed, unable to get up and function, except with great effort for minimal tasks.

This is where we can use your help, as community members who want to love and support Polly, as we do. Even though Polly has medical insurance through her work, it only pays for part of the expenses. Her care has included visits to her primary care doctor, pulmonology, cardiology, numerous ER visits, acupuncture and other therapies.

Current medical expense debt: $30,000

Ongoing monthly medical expenses at current rate: $600-1,000

90% of ongoing medical expenses are not covered by insurance.

We need your to help get our girl back on track, which requires financial support to rectify current debt, and create a pool of funds to support the next steps in medical care.

Imminent goals:

1) To be evaluated by the specialist team at Cedars Sinai Long COVID Clinic. Referrals to COVID Cardiology, and proper specialized testing such as micro clot scanning. Possible participation in clinical trials. Cedars programs: LINK & LINK

2) To find a treatment path that will support Polly returning to at least baseline normal energy level to raise her son, feel like an active participant in her family and friends' lives, and someday climbing the hills again.

Avenues to donate:

1) Here on Go Fund Me.

2) Direct via her Venmo: @Polly-Sumner

She has authored a couple of articles in the Santa Barbara Independent about her experience with Long COVID.

Article #1- 2/2022: LINK

Article #2- 12/2022: LINK

Let's help Polly get her joy back in living!

Sincerely,

Polly's family