Support for a Summer of Rest and Recovery

Hello, my name is Hannah and as some of you know, I have been recently diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

For those who don’t know, ME/CFS is a biological illness that affects many body parts. It causes severe fatigue not improved by rest, problems thinking and sleeping, dizziness, pain, and many other symptoms. People with ME/CFS are not able to function the same way they did before they became ill. They may not always be able to do daily tasks like showering or cooking a meal. ME/CFS often makes it hard to keep a job, go to school, and take part in family and social life. ME/CFS can last for years and sometimes leads to serious disability.*

I have struggled with this chronic illness for about 8 years, and in the last 2, it has become disabling. It was only in February that we found a diagnosis, and we suspect there are other underlying conditions that I have not been able to receive testing for at this point. I have been working 32 hours a week as an administrative assistant; however, I have resigned from this position due to the decline in my health and will be finished working on 5/21.

On a daily basis, I struggle with extreme fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, headaches, GI issues, allergic reactions, and many more symptoms. Over the course of the last few years, I have developed many dietary and chemical sensitivities, causing me to lose the ability to wear most jewelry, drink alcohol, and eat some of my favorite foods. In the last two months, I have begun to use a cane full-time in order to be able to get up the stairs, walk at work, or attempt to go to the grocery store. I don’t remember the last time I went to a coffee shop with friends or on a walk just for fun. My life has become a game of surviving until the next day/week/month.

I am incredibly lucky and have an amazing partner who is doing everything in his power to take care of me and our two kitties. But at this time, I am in need of more help.

I am making this with the hopes to raise enough funds that I am able to rest for the summer. In order to do so, I am in need of at least $5000 to cover my monthly expenses for those months. These are expenses such as moving expenses, car payment, student loans, medical bills, groceries, medications, cat food, accessibility tools, etc. This rest period would be truly life-changing for me and my health; long periods of extreme rest are the most effective in battling ME/CFS.

At the end of May, my partner and I will be moving across the state. This will be a very beneficial move and will put us closer to healthcare for me and job opportunities for him. However, I have been informed by my doctor that this move will cause my symptoms to flare up. With the history of how severe my symptoms have been and how they have been increasing exponentially recently, it means I likely will be physically unable to work for a minimum of a month. Having the ability to take the summer to rest and recoup would improve my quality of life tenfold.

After we get settled, I am hoping to find a job that is either remote or part-time. I will likely still require a mobility aid, medication, and flexibility to be able to work consistently. But I am hopeful that I will be able to find a position that fits my needs.

I am truly and eternally grateful to anyone that is able to contribute or share this, and if you cannot, even just reading this means the world to me.

Thank you

Hannah<3

*Information from cdc.gov