My name is Jamie, and I want to share the story of my dear friend Crystal, who has been through an incredibly difficult journey over the past several months.

During the week of Thanksgiving, Crystal fell seriously ill. By Thanksgiving Day, she was so weak that her family struggled to wake her. They rushed her to the hospital, where she would spend the next month battling a series of unimaginable health challenges. She was barely conscious for days, her speech was affected, and doctors discovered she had suffered a stroke. Her blood sugar skyrocketed to 354, she lost her eyesight, endured unbearable pain in her shoulder and back, became unable to walk without assistance, and lost partial use of one side of her body.

Now, as we enter March, Crystal is facing yet another hurdle—she needs heart surgery to receive an artificial valve. Before that can happen, she must undergo dental work. On top of everything, her vision is still not fully restored. She has been receiving injections in her eyes for months and has a port for other necessary medications.

Crystal has now been out of work for over three months, and her short-term disability benefits are simply not enough to cover the mounting expenses. Despite everything she has been through, doctors still don’t know exactly what caused this, but they have determined that a fungal infection in her heart spread and triggered this cascade of serious health issues.

I am reaching out on behalf of Crystal and her family, asking for help so she can continue healing without the overwhelming burden of financial stress. Any support, big or small, would mean the world to her during this incredibly difficult time.

The funds will be used to help with medical expenses and monthly living expenses.