Hi friends and family,

If you’re reading this, thank you so much for taking the time. This is extremely hard and vulnerable for me to write, but this has been the toughest battle we’ve ever faced, and we have continued to face it over the last few years.

Over the last couple of years, my health has completely changed for the worse and has continued to decline. If you know me personally, you know I’ve been struggling with my health, battling an autoimmune disease and different chronic health issues for a few years now. I went from being a pretty normal, working, gym-going, busy mom to feeling sick, flu-ish, and fatigued almost every single day.

Over the last 2-3 years, my symptoms have included:

• Extreme exhaustion and weakness that sleep doesn’t help.

• Extreme brain fog.

• Nerve pain, muscle pain, joint pain, and body aches.

• Fast heart rate and dizziness.

• Flu-ish feelings every single day that no amount of rest fixes.

• POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome): A condition where my heart rate increases abnormally when I stand up, causing dizziness, lightheadedness, a racing heart, and fatigue.

• MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome): A condition where mast cells release too many chemicals, causing flushing, itching, hives, stomach problems, rapid heartbeat, and blood pressure changes.

For the first few years of my sickness, I bounced between doctors, hospitals, and specialists trying to get answers. No one could figure out why I was so sick. The majority of my lab work would come back “normal,” while I felt everything but normal as my health slowly declined.

• Rheumatologist: Diagnosed me with UCTD (Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease/Sjogren's). They aren't exactly sure which specific disease it is yet, but my autoimmune markers are positive.

• Cardiologist: Ran numerous tests, EKGs, and cardiac monitoring, ultimately diagnosing me with POTS. I have been tried on many different beta-blockers.

• Neurologist: Told me my MRI is “normal,” even though I don't feel normal at all.

• Primary Care: My PCP has gone above and beyond, running extensive lab testing. However, this condition is starting to fall outside of what can be treated in a standard office.

My PCP has helped me the most out of anyone. He listened to me, and over time, we did testing that showed I have genetics making me highly susceptible to environmental toxins. Before finding him, I was repeatedly told it was just "stress, anxiety, and normal labs," all while my life was quietly falling apart behind the scenes. It completely broke me down.

On top of that, our housing situation has been turned upside down.

We lived in our first rental for about three years. We loved our home. We later learned, after three years of living there, that it had serious water damage and toxic mold that was completely hidden from us. We had no obvious signs to point toward the home making me sick at the time, and we had no idea hidden mold was present.

When we finally connected my symptoms to the house—after finding mold under the flooring and hidden leaks—we couldn't get help to fix the issues. We had no choice but to leave. We had to throw away a large portion of our belongings to protect my health and try to start fresh. It was devastating.

We moved into a newly renovated rental that we hoped would be safe. But after only five weeks there, my body crashed again with the same terrifying symptoms, this time even worse. We later found out the home had severe humidity and water-damage issues in the crawlspace and basement that we couldn't control. The landlord wouldn't and couldn't fix it without basically tearing the home down.

We had to leave again, which broke us both emotionally and financially.

We are currently staying with family. While I am incredibly grateful to have a roof over our heads, it is not a viable long-term solution and is not 100% safe for my health recovery either. We’ve moved twice, thrown away our belongings, and tried everything we could afford on our own.

Last year, after intense saving and help from family, we raised enough money to see a specialist six hours away. That visit and the specialized labs ordered are what finally put a name to this nightmare:

CIRS – Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, triggered by long-term exposure to water-damaged buildings.

My CIRS labs came back completely abnormal. Testing proved that I carry two specific HLA genes that make it nearly impossible for my body to recognize and clear mold and biotoxins. Instead of eliminating them, my immune system stays stuck in a severe inflammatory loop. Even after leaving the exposure, my body keeps fighting itself as if it is under constant attack. CIRS has triggered and worsened my POTS, MCAS, Endometriosis, and UCTD/Sjogren's symptoms.

My primary care doctor is incredibly kind, but treating CIRS requires specific, advanced protocols that regular doctors aren't trained in. The specialist care, advanced labs, and safe housing we need are completely out-of-pocket and far beyond what we can manage alone, especially after two sudden, costly moves.

What Your Help Supports:

I am asking for help with things I realistically cannot do alone:

• CIRS-Focused Medical Care: Specialist visits, follow-ups, and specialized labs not covered by insurance or Medicaid.

• Treatments & Protocols: Supportive supplements and prescriptions recommended by my doctors to calm my immune and nervous systems.

• Environmental Safety: High-efficiency air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and professional environmental testing to guarantee our next home is 100% safe.

• Replacing Essentials: Replacing the furniture and clothing we had to throw away due to contamination.

• Safer Housing Costs: A security deposit, first month's rent, and moving expenses to get us into a medically safe, low-mold rental.

My goal is simple: I want my health to stabilize enough so I can continue working, support my family, and be the mom my kids truly deserve. I don't expect a miracle cure, but I know that with the right treatment and a safe place to live, I have a real chance to improve instead of slowly getting worse.

If you cannot donate, sharing this link means just as much to us. Thank you for reading, praying, checking on us, and helping in any way you can. It all matters more than you know.

With love,

August