TLDR: Long COVID has come with a bunch of twists and turns. I did as much as I could, but now I need communal support in order to continue rebuilding my body. I am learning to live with Long COVID and how it has affected my pre-existing conditions.

The "What"

I was diagnosed with Long COVID (LC) in March 2022. LC created new debilitating symptoms, and it worsened pre-existing conditions. After nearly a year of hoping things would get better, and seeing almost no improvement, I pursued a newfound treatment. In April 2023 I completed the treatment. It made my fatigue less severe (yay), however, I'm still facing physical and financial hurdles, so I am asking for monetary support.

I have lost a significant and destabilizing amount of muscle from being sedentary due to LC, which worsened my HSD (Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder). This manifests itself in a variety of ways, one being severe joint instability. Examples would be my shoulder nearly falling out of place when I picked up a gallon of water, and nerves throughout my entire body are often pinched from daily movements.

The "How"

These funds will provide access and relief via

Specialized Physical Therapy: A requirement for my hypermobile body. A physical therapist that doesn't understand the complexities of HSD can cause more damage. Having consistent guidance as I rebuild my strength is vital to my success.

Rent Relief: Temporary help to cover part of my living expenses as I continue to search for accessible work that will give me physical energy. The stress of not having basic needs met furthers my fatigue.

Medical Appointments + Medical Bills: Due to an unexpected health issue post-treatment, I've fallen behind on my payment plan. This has caused a domino effect in not being able to attend other important medical appointments.

Something Fun: Having a joyful thing to look forward to is important for everyone. Joy is radical and integral to our well-being. (The amount set aside for this is less than 8% of my goal)

The "Why"

I've been holding off on a fundraiser for as long as possible, but I have to accept that I need communal support. I've exhausted all of my internal resources.

My dream is to have access to the tools I need to better manage my disability so that I can focus on my education, working in advocacy, creating art, and continuing to be of service. Having a novel chronic illness atop old ones means my body will continue to evolve, and my care will need to evolve as well. Thank you for being part of my evolution.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this. Any amount given via the GFM link is met with sincere gratitude. If you're unable to give right now, sharing this post with the link is another form of wonderful support. Thank you so much.

All my Love,

KD