Hello, my name is Danielle Hightower. I am 49 years old. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005. I have several additional medical issues that have presented themselves in recent years. I am praying desperately for God to help me with treatment so I can live my life again.

Currently, I am dealing with multiple sclerosis, a meningioma / brain tumor (unsure if malignant or benign), umbilical hernia, intractable migraines, I have nodules on my lungs and thyroid. I have just been told I am prediabetic. In addition, I have a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst, I have extreme pain in both knees and last year I tore my ACL and have not been able to get treatment for it yet. I have degenerative disc disease and herniated discs in my back which make it unbearable to stand or even sit upright for a long period of time. I'm hoping to get some cortisone shots to help. I can't walk very well anymore and need a wheelchair badly. I have sleep apnea and high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. I am on oxygen now because I have diminished lung capacity.

I have two adult children, a daughter, 24, and a son, 21, who is autistic. And without them and my faith, I don't think I would ever look towards the finish line. I've been a single parent most of my children's lives. Their father currently owes me $45,000 in child support and has not made one payment since I think 2019. Just another reason for my inability to care for myself medically.

I have previously worked for a major Insurance company for about the last 7 years, minus this last year (since November 2024), when I had to stop due to my symptoms. I am now on long-term disability at a very reduced pay rate. The issue for me is that I don't earn enough money to pay for the treatments I need. I never have enough for the needed procedures, or even groceries, much less medical care for my special needs son, and it's not getting better.

I've always been a person who lived alone. As of late, my son and I have moved in with my daughter and her fiancee. I am unable to afford my previous rent of $1,600, because I am unable to handle the full-time hours. We've applied for food stamps and been awarded $24 a month. I am unable to drive anymore, and all of the physical challenges I'm facing make me unable to work full or even part time any longer.

What I'm asking God for, is enough money to at least do some preliminary treatments, to move me to the next stage of care for my medical issues. That means that I would need, hernia surgery, which is $900, I need an MRI on the meningioma / brain tumor, that's $275-300. I need biopsies done on my thyroid and my lungs to determine if the nodules are dangerous or not (unsure of cost). I have degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, simply some very bad back problems. I'm hoping to get some shots to ease the pain. My knees are beyond excruciating to walk on. This was even prior to tearing the ACL. I need to get a bariatric push wheelchair or, truthfully, an electric wheelchair. I am not strong enough to push the wheels. They are just expensive, anywhere from $700 to $1,000. My multiple sclerosis is usually what gets my money first, because that's usually where a lot of symptoms come from. As of late it has been kind of a perfect storm though.

Most of the time, 95%, I'm in bed. I have been at home, and in the last approximately 5 years, I have left my home less than 30 times. I miss so many physician appointments, family gatherings, funerals, and don't go to the grocery store, for haircuts, even outside in general. My son also misses care appointments, due to my health. I feel so guilty.

I guess, simply, I just want to have a life again. I'm not even 50 years old. I do talk to some of my loved ones on the telephone, that's nice. I just can't ever see anybody, unless they come here, which is my room filled with medical things, me with my hair not brushed, hooked up to oxygen, just looking pitiful. I don't want them to see me like that. I've never done anything like a GoFundMe or any of the other platforms that do those kinds of campaigns. I feel embarrassed. I can hear my father's voice telling me it's not right to ask other people for help.

But, I'm going to go ahead and try it. I'm desperate at this point. I've applied for disability, and what they could award me, if I ever got approved, is less than I'm making now.

So I ask of you, if you have any ability, and see fit, to help me in any way that you can. I would appreciate it more than you could know.

I truly want to thank you, for just reading this and perhaps praying for me. I am a staunch optimist, and I believe that one day I will get well enough to maybe take a trip with my kids. Maybe one day I could see some blue tropical water or the mountains with them. As of right now, we can't share much of anything but a TV show. Because I'm just stuck here. I'm very grateful. Very very grateful. I am just stuck.

I thank you many times over. I'm praying over this request that, it connects with people that can afford to extend a hand. If you are unable to, please just pray.

I pray for your peace and happiness. Pray you share time with loved ones this holiday season and any holidays that you celebrate. When it all boils down, family, friends, and love are all that are important.

Thank you so much in advance,

Danielle Hightower