My name is Kayla James, from New Rochelle, New York and I am currently facing a health crisis that has turned my world upside down. Here is my story.

I Need Help Right Now

For the past year, I’ve been confined to my apartment while dealing with a progressive spread of nerve damage; complications from a childhood injury, layered with several chronic illnesses, and a life-threatening brain abnormality I never knew I had.

I’ve watched my body decline while my world grew smaller and quieter and my grief grew louder; the constant limbo of tests, procedures, unpredictable symptoms, and repeating advocation is exhausting.

On a good day, my baseline pain is an 8 out of 10. Imagine the symptoms of the flu or COVID layered with the pain of a broken bone, surgery, or a needle prick except it never stops. Even simple movements can trigger new injuries, like the time a sneeze caused a disc to blow in my spine.

This is my present reality.

I went from building my career as an Art Therapist to losing jobs due to my body collapsing without warning. This year has been filled with hospital visits, seizures, invasive procedures, and doctors who dismissed my symptoms instead of investigating them.

I’m still fighting for adequate care, still trying to reach second specialists, and facing insurance barriers that delay answers. As a Black woman, I’ve felt firsthand how often our pain is misunderstood, minimized, or misdiagnosed, leaving me to navigate a system not built to support me. Now, as another year approaches, I’m facing the very real fear of losing my apartment with no disability income and nowhere else to turn.

I have a heart posture of naturally pouring into others, which makes this ask incredibly difficult and I need community, stability, and encouragement to keep going on the days when fear and uncertainty feel suffocating.

How You Can Help

Your support - whether through donating or sharing directly helps me:

I’ve shared one of my art pieces and a poem written by a stranger/poet in the hospital- both creative pieces symbolize my experience. You can view them by swiping right above.

A Single Moment of Kindness

During an hour-long invasive procedure, I kept smiling. My specialist paused and told me I was the kindest, most humorous patient in severe pain they’d ever treated - then shared their own chronic illness journey.

That single moment gave me the strength to keep going. It reminded both of us that even in pain, connection and compassion still create real impact.

If you’re able to donate or share, your support means more than I can express. Thank you for seeing me, believing me, and standing with me in this fight for my health.

May it inspire you to create a “single moment” of kindness for yourself or someone else.

If you’re interested in donating outside of this platform, or have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

With deep gratitude,

Kayla (KJ)