Support John's Fight Against Dysautonomia

**Help John Overcome Dysautonomia and Get Insurance Coverage Reinstated**

**Immediate Goal: $1,500, Long-term Goal: $6,000**

**Brief overview**

Help John Overcome Dysautonomia and Get Insurance Coverage Reinstated**

My name is John Gebretatose from Minneapolis, and I've battled dysautonomia since the fourth grade, enduring chronic fatigue, pain, dizziness, and more. As an only child, I’ve cared for my parents since we immigrated from Sudan; my father passed away in 2007, and my mother has schizophrenia and diabetes. I urgently need $1,500 within a week and a half to restore my health insurance, with a long-term goal of $6,000 for ongoing medical expenses. Your support can help me find answers and improve my life. Any contribution will make a difference. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Please read below for more details.

**Who:**

My name is John Gebretatose, and I live in Minneapolis. I've been fighting a silent battle for most of my life. I am an only child and my parents and I immigrated to America from Khartoum, Sudan, when I was 3 years old. Both my parents are Eritrean. They fled the war between Eritrean and Ethiopia and ended up having me in Khartoum, Sudan. As far back as I can remember, I have been a caretaker for both of my parents, who suffered from their illnesses. Sadly, my father passed in 2007, but I continue to care for my mom, who battles schizophrenia and diabetes.

**What:**

I've been struggling with symptoms that are found in dysautonomia since the 4th grade. Symptoms include:

Anxiety

Excessive sweating or not being able to sweat

Fatigue

Feeling short of breath (especially when you exercise)

Feeling thirsty all the time

Having trouble swallowing

Headaches

Insomnia

Nausea and diarrhea

Vision problems (blurred vision, vision loss, tunnel vision)

Abnormally fast or slow heart rate

Relentless chronic fatigue, pain, dizziness, a racing heart, nausea, headaches, and a constant choking sensation.

Depression and anxiety now feel like a symptom of this condition because it’s just so hard on one’s mind to feel enough in the world when you’re always exhausted or foggy-headed. Every day is a fight against my body, and the simplest tasks feel insurmountable. I wake up every morning with some form of nausea and pain. I meditate but still faint a few times a week. I've had shallow breathing my entire life. And my digestive system has always had problems. When breathing deeply into my stomach, aomehow my faint sensations are triggered. I can sleep for what feels like an eternity if I had to; it’s called chronic fatigue, and boy, does it scare me sometimes that I will always have this extreme fatigue.

**Where:**

I want to start my diagnostic journey close to home, here in Minneapolis, but I'm ready to go wherever necessary to find the care I need. I can't do this alone; I need help to find my way to a brighter, healthier future. I prefer to begin at Park Nicollet and see what I learn. It is also in my healthcare system.

**When:**

Time is running out. In just a week and a half, I need to raise $1,500 to restore my health insurance, which lapsed because of the overwhelming brain fog and confusion caused by my symptoms. This insurance is my lifeline to getting the medical attention I desperately need. In addition, I am also raising funds to cover my insurance deductible and time off as necessary to manage symptoms and to attend appointments.

**Why:**

I can’t keep living like this, suffering in silence and isolation. I want to be heard, to find answers, and to reclaim my life. I'm now 41 years old, and I've been enduring this nightmare for decades. I want to experience life without the constant pain and fear.

Your support means everything to me. Even the smallest donation can make a world of difference. Together, I can finally get the care I need to live a better, fuller life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and agenerosity.