Hello everyone,

I never imagined I would be in a position where I would need to ask for help like this, but after months of medical complications and financial strain, I have reached a point where I can no longer manage this on my own.

In mid-December, after being sick for more than a month and not knowing what was wrong, I was finally diagnosed with acute diverticulitis. While living in Albania, I sought medical care several times, but the correct tests were never done. My symptoms were treated without identifying the underlying problem, and my condition continued to worsen.

Because of this, I made the difficult decision to travel to Spain, where my family lives, so I could receive better medical care and avoid the language barriers I was facing. I split my time between both countries because I do not have a long-term visa to stay in Spain and do not meet the immigration requirements to live there permanently with my family and raise my children full-time.

I arrived in Spain in mid-December and was admitted to the hospital the following day. I was diagnosed with an acute diverticulitis flare-up. During that time, I also developed a thrombosis and was found to be borderline anemic, conditions I was unaware of until I was discharged and began experiencing additional symptoms.

I spent about a month on bed rest. However, because my visa was about to expire, I had to return to Albania to avoid overstaying and violating immigration rules.

Unfortunately, the medication I was prescribed for my anemia was not working. Given my previous experiences with medical care in Albania, I decided to return to Spain to seek treatment again, hoping that a medication change would be enough. Instead, the ineffective treatment triggered another severe diverticulitis flare, and I was admitted to the hospital for a second time.

During my first hospitalization, surgery was discussed, but I was able to avoid it through treatment and medication. Now, after this second hospitalization and the progression of my condition, colon surgery has become unavoidable due to the chronic nature of my illness.

My doctors are still completing testing to determine the safest timing for surgery, with the goal of achieving the best possible outcome and avoiding waking up with a permanent colostomy bag.

I will remain in the hospital for several more weeks for surgery and recovery. After that, I will be unable to work for additional weeks while I heal. This puts me months away from being able to return to work and rebuild financially.

I am the primary provider for my family. My partner is a stay-at-home mom, and we are a small family with very limited outside support. I have not been able to work in the capacity required to support two households in two different countries while managing my health.

Our savings have been completely depleted. I am now facing the very real possibility of eviction from my home in Albania, which is what allows me to remain close to my family. Even basic needs for my children and family have become extremely difficult to meet.

After my recovery here, I will also need to return to the United States to follow up with my doctors. I would have gone there earlier, but I simply was not physically able to endure a 14-hour flight. Even the short two-hour flights between the two countries I support were extremely difficult. At my weakest, I could barely carry half a bag of groceries from the market in my building to my apartment.

This fundraiser is being created to help cover essential living expenses, housing, travel for medical care, and the costs that insurance does not cover so that I can focus on healing and getting through this life-changing moment without the constant fear of losing our home or being unable to care for my children.

Any support, whether through donating or sharing this page, truly means more than I can express.

Thank you for the love and encouragement that has already carried me through this incredibly difficult time. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for any support you are able to offer as my family and I navigate what comes next.