Stand with Jo: Battling Chronic Illness
Donation protected
Hi there! I’m Jo ❤️ :)
For readers who don’t want to read the full story (and that is 100% okay).
This is what I’m raising funds for, with the biggest priority being to help me secure housing within 1 month - I can keep being sick and working to make or raise money for the antibiotics course and extended medical care if I have a safe place to live:
• Afford a 3-week antibiotic course my insurance doesn’t cover
• Pay down mounting emergency medical bills & undergo further testing for chronic illness and autoimmune conditions - I cannot attend my pre scheduled appointments any longer due to inability to pay the copay and bills for previous appointments
• Afford safe housing after August 30th when I will no longer be able to pay my rent
• Cover basic living expenses for the next few months while I find stable, remote work that accommodates my health needs - if I could do anything to work in person again, I would! Unfortunately with my health, it’s not an option, even for survival
• Cover PCOS supplements that make a tangible difference in my daily life
• Cover legal fees as I seek accountability for ADA retaliation and employment discrimination in the hopes of receiving a reasonable and fair small severance from my previous employer.
Over the past year, I’ve been quietly fighting through worsening chronic illness while doing everything I could to keep my role as a healthcare recruiter, pay basic everyday expenses while medical bills piled up, show up for my team, honor my responsibilities, remain positive and take care of myself.. while losing my ability to drive, walk outside of my immediate neighborhood for fear of fainting, get through the day without vomiting, inflammation and bodily pain, or having to take an ice bath because my on/ off again fever gets so high. I have now been quarantined for my health since March of this year 2025.
To help me recover while actively trying to figure out the root of the symptoms, my doctors prescribed temporary accommodations for me to be able to work from home.
My employer initially approved them internally with the physicians note and then under a formal ADA agreement with further documentation, and I remained committed to my role - even earning two promotions while working remotely and growing closer with a fantastic team!!
In July 2025, during an uncomfortable teams meeting, I was informed that my accommodations would no longer be honored - despite a physician’s note through October. When I spoke up for myself and then offered to quietly resign at the end of the year when speaking up was met with resistance, I was instead offered disdain and insufficient explanations as to why my accommodations could not continue, even short term.
I was locked out of all systems mid- severance discussion, left without any income to help me get through the next month, let alone the next few months.
I’m here asking for help, not just for me, but for everyone navigating the impossible intersection of chronic illness, a medical system for profit, housing insecurity, and job loss in a system that too often fails to protect us.
When it rains it really does pour, and I’m doing everything I can to get out of this.
I’ve been staying strong by being creative at home, painting and trying to flip furniture to help me with rent and medical bills on the days I am able to. And yet, it’s not enough. It’s far from enough actually - and I cannot afford medical care any longer at this time, an antibiotic course that might make a significant difference in my life, and will be out of housing the end of August.
Here are the real life consequences of losing my position, I can no longer:
• Afford a 3-week antibiotic course my insurance doesn’t cover
• Pay down mounting emergency medical bills & undergo further testing for chronic illness and autoimmune conditions - I cannot attend my pre scheduled appointments any longer due to inability to pay the copay and bills for previous appointments
• Afford safe housing after August 30th when I will no longer be able to pay my rent
• Cover basic living expenses for the next few months while I find stable, remote work that accommodates my health needs - if I could do anything to work in person again, I would!
Unfortunately with my health, it’s not an option, even for survival
• Cover legal fees as I seek accountability for ADA retaliation and employment discrimination in the hopes of receiving a reasonable and fair small severance from my previous employer.
My symptoms now include high fevers, bloating, pain, inflammation, hot flashes, unexplained lasting menstrual bleeding, bodily shakes, gut issues and incontinence, along with brain fog and chronic fatigue regardless of sleep And it has taken a long while to be taken seriously and get appointments due to both availability and affordability, and I was grateful to finally be on the path to figuring this out.
As I began receiving care and testing for what may be Lyme disease or Hashimoto’s, my access to financial security was stripped away.
Asking for help now is deeply humbling, especially when so many others are struggling too.
I’m tired. I’m defeated. And I’m going through this alone.
That doesn’t mean I’m giving up, it means I’m finally asking for help, because sometimes you just can’t do it all on your own - and that is okay.
When I see Go Fund Me’s and requests for monetary help during tough times - through illness, death, uncertainty, mental health, divorce, etc. I know it’s common to dismiss these individuals, their journeys and their requests. I just ask that you remind yourself that everyone is one disaster, one illness, one disability, and one layoff, away from needing help too. ❤️
If you can donate, like, or share for reach - I would be immensely grateful to you and hope to repay any and all kindness received when I make it through this and can use my experiences to fight for others in similar positions.
Thank you for reading my story
With love, respect, and gratitude, Jo
Also, if you find yourself in a similar position. Reach out! Maybe we can help each other through it ✨
For readers who don’t want to read the full story (and that is 100% okay).
This is what I’m raising funds for, with the biggest priority being to help me secure housing within 1 month - I can keep being sick and working to make or raise money for the antibiotics course and extended medical care if I have a safe place to live:
• Afford a 3-week antibiotic course my insurance doesn’t cover
• Pay down mounting emergency medical bills & undergo further testing for chronic illness and autoimmune conditions - I cannot attend my pre scheduled appointments any longer due to inability to pay the copay and bills for previous appointments
• Afford safe housing after August 30th when I will no longer be able to pay my rent
• Cover basic living expenses for the next few months while I find stable, remote work that accommodates my health needs - if I could do anything to work in person again, I would! Unfortunately with my health, it’s not an option, even for survival
• Cover PCOS supplements that make a tangible difference in my daily life
• Cover legal fees as I seek accountability for ADA retaliation and employment discrimination in the hopes of receiving a reasonable and fair small severance from my previous employer.
Over the past year, I’ve been quietly fighting through worsening chronic illness while doing everything I could to keep my role as a healthcare recruiter, pay basic everyday expenses while medical bills piled up, show up for my team, honor my responsibilities, remain positive and take care of myself.. while losing my ability to drive, walk outside of my immediate neighborhood for fear of fainting, get through the day without vomiting, inflammation and bodily pain, or having to take an ice bath because my on/ off again fever gets so high. I have now been quarantined for my health since March of this year 2025.
To help me recover while actively trying to figure out the root of the symptoms, my doctors prescribed temporary accommodations for me to be able to work from home.
My employer initially approved them internally with the physicians note and then under a formal ADA agreement with further documentation, and I remained committed to my role - even earning two promotions while working remotely and growing closer with a fantastic team!!
In July 2025, during an uncomfortable teams meeting, I was informed that my accommodations would no longer be honored - despite a physician’s note through October. When I spoke up for myself and then offered to quietly resign at the end of the year when speaking up was met with resistance, I was instead offered disdain and insufficient explanations as to why my accommodations could not continue, even short term.
I was locked out of all systems mid- severance discussion, left without any income to help me get through the next month, let alone the next few months.
I’m here asking for help, not just for me, but for everyone navigating the impossible intersection of chronic illness, a medical system for profit, housing insecurity, and job loss in a system that too often fails to protect us.
When it rains it really does pour, and I’m doing everything I can to get out of this.
I’ve been staying strong by being creative at home, painting and trying to flip furniture to help me with rent and medical bills on the days I am able to. And yet, it’s not enough. It’s far from enough actually - and I cannot afford medical care any longer at this time, an antibiotic course that might make a significant difference in my life, and will be out of housing the end of August.
Here are the real life consequences of losing my position, I can no longer:
• Afford a 3-week antibiotic course my insurance doesn’t cover
• Pay down mounting emergency medical bills & undergo further testing for chronic illness and autoimmune conditions - I cannot attend my pre scheduled appointments any longer due to inability to pay the copay and bills for previous appointments
• Afford safe housing after August 30th when I will no longer be able to pay my rent
• Cover basic living expenses for the next few months while I find stable, remote work that accommodates my health needs - if I could do anything to work in person again, I would!
Unfortunately with my health, it’s not an option, even for survival
• Cover legal fees as I seek accountability for ADA retaliation and employment discrimination in the hopes of receiving a reasonable and fair small severance from my previous employer.
My symptoms now include high fevers, bloating, pain, inflammation, hot flashes, unexplained lasting menstrual bleeding, bodily shakes, gut issues and incontinence, along with brain fog and chronic fatigue regardless of sleep And it has taken a long while to be taken seriously and get appointments due to both availability and affordability, and I was grateful to finally be on the path to figuring this out.
As I began receiving care and testing for what may be Lyme disease or Hashimoto’s, my access to financial security was stripped away.
Asking for help now is deeply humbling, especially when so many others are struggling too.
I’m tired. I’m defeated. And I’m going through this alone.
That doesn’t mean I’m giving up, it means I’m finally asking for help, because sometimes you just can’t do it all on your own - and that is okay.
When I see Go Fund Me’s and requests for monetary help during tough times - through illness, death, uncertainty, mental health, divorce, etc. I know it’s common to dismiss these individuals, their journeys and their requests. I just ask that you remind yourself that everyone is one disaster, one illness, one disability, and one layoff, away from needing help too. ❤️
If you can donate, like, or share for reach - I would be immensely grateful to you and hope to repay any and all kindness received when I make it through this and can use my experiences to fight for others in similar positions.
Thank you for reading my story
With love, respect, and gratitude, Jo
Also, if you find yourself in a similar position. Reach out! Maybe we can help each other through it ✨
Organizer
Jordan Miller
Organizer
Rocklin, CA