Since Hurricane Helene—and after my medications went bad in the fridge—I’ve been struggling to manage my autoimmune disorder. My body developed antibodies to the treatment that had been working, and everything has spiraled since then. I lost my full-time job because of my illness (even if that’s not the reason they officially gave), and I’ve been doing my best to stay afloat by running the pet-sitting business I love, along with a few small side jobs.

Since Mother’s Day this year, I’ve been in and out of the ER seven different times. Each visit meant short steroid bursts that only left me feeling better until they wore off and then immediately worse, even while trying chemo medications and various biologic treatments. My most recent ER trip turned into a hospital stay, causing me to miss a month of work and leaving me with over $5,000 in medical bills. When I finally came home, both of my dogs—Finlay and Bear—were sick and needed emergency vet care. I used the last of my savings to care for them, and now I’m living off a nearly maxed-out credit card.

Right now I need help with basics: food, gas for the 2-hour drive to my specialist, multiple doctor appointments, utilities, rent, insurance and my car payment. On January 12, I’m hoping to finally find out whether I’ve been misdiagnosed or mistreated by my rheumatologist and, hopefully, begin tapering off the massive steroid doses I’ve been relying on just to function. My life used to be filled with joy—my animals, whitewater rafting, and hiking—but the pain, the medication complications, and a year of inadequate treatment have taken so much from me.

I still have a long road ahead and have upcoming appointments with a pulmonologist, immunologist, and new rheumatologist. I’m hopeful I can finally get answers and get my life back.

Since May 2025, I’ve been hospitalized repeatedly and placed on extremely high steroid doses simply to stay alive. The bills keep growing, and after my most recent 6-day hospital stay, I haven’t been able to work at all. When I got home, my dogs were sick again, and all my remaining savings went to their care. I’m still too immunocompromised to work around the general public, and I’m currently on strong antibiotics after doctors drained over a liter of fluid from my lung.

I’ve never had to ask for help like this, but I am scared about how I will keep the lights on, survive, and heal. Any help—of any amount—would mean the world right now.

I’m hopeful that with proper treatment, I can recover, return to the pet-sitting business I started this year, and get back to the activities I love.