<div><em>My Story:</em>

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<div>Hi friends, family, and community near and far! I've appreciated all of your love and support throughout the years. As some of you know, I have been battling <strong>severe, aggressive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since 2020</strong>. In the six years that I have had lupus, it has already caused organ damage to my lungs, heart, brain, and peripheral nervous system. Lupus is unpredictable, and can affect any organ. <strong>It can cause widespread damage that ripples throughout the body</strong> and complicates health even further, and in 2025 I was diagnosed with a brain tumor that had been worsening my lupus symptoms even more. <b>This Spring </b><strong>I had neurosurgery to remove the tumor, and since then I have been on a very challenging journey of recovery and healing.</strong>

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<div><em>The Reality of Lupus:</em>

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<ul>

<li>Lupus is a very serious disease and <strong>Black women are disproportionately affected</strong>. Black women are 2-3 times more likely than white women to have lupus, and lupus is the <strong>5th leading cause of death</strong> in Black and Latina women ages 15-24.

</li>

</ul>

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<ul>

<li>Lupus treatment is very expensive and difficult to access. <strong>It costs an average of $50,000 to $83,000 each year for patients with severe lupus to access care and treatment </strong>(and that cost doesn't even include medications and emergency visits).

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<div><em>My Support Needs:</em>

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<div>After being laid off from my job last October, I have been doing my best to manage my lupus treatment and keep up with medical expenses, but <strong>in a country with profound inequities that are embedded into the fabric of society, the costs are excessive</strong>. The stress of trying to navigate these challenges is directly harming my health, and is a major risk factor in causing lupus flares and tumor recurrence.

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<div><strong>I am raising funds to cover medical expenses and living costs while I continue to battle lupus and recover from brain surgery this year.</strong> I am hoping to raise enough to support me financially over the next three months of recovery and treatment.

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<div>Your donations are vital, and will directly help me:

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<ul>

<li>pay for lupus <strong>medications and infusion treatments</strong>

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<li>cover <strong>hospital bills and co-pays </strong>so I can continue to access care

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<li>pay for <strong>groceries and meals</strong>, especially since I am often unable to cook for myself due to lupus fatigue and arthritis

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<li>contribute to the cost of <strong>rent and utilities</strong> to ensure that I have stable housing

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<li>ensure that I have <strong>transportation</strong> to and from appointments

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<li>pay for <strong>mobility aids</strong> (such as a rollator or wheelchair) to reduce strain on my body

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</ul>

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<div>I share my story not just as a personal one, but <strong>as a way to illuminate the disheartening reality of being a Black woman with a chronic illness in the United States</strong>. The mistreatment of Black women in medical institutions doesn't just happen in hospitals and doctor's offices, it is embedded within the framework of "care" and who can afford to access it.

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<div>Supporting my fundraiser is a direct way to <strong>take tangible action and help dismantle the structural system of medical racism in society</strong>. It is also a way to make sure that your donations go directly to <strong>patients in need who cannot afford to wait</strong> for support to trickle down through various organizations and bureaucracies.

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<div>Lupus is a lifelong journey, and although I am currently in the most difficult chapter I have faced yet, I know that I will make it through. <strong>This depth of healing cannot happen in isolation, and I value the communities that have supported me, cared for me, and helped me make it this far.</strong> As I try to make it through this part of my journey, I am grateful that I am not alone and I invite you to journey with me.

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<div>Please <strong>share widely to help raise awareness </strong>about the realities of being a Black women with lupus and the necessity to support lupus patients directly! 

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<div>I'm grateful for your support, and ANY<span> donation amount is helpful. You can donate through GoFundMe, or you can choose to donate via Zelle, Venmo (@OKSmarr) or CashApp ($OKSmarr). Every donation is deeply appreciated.</span>
</div>

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<div>With gratitude,

</div>

<div>Olivia

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<div><em>Want to learn more about lupus and the facts I've shared? Check out the link below!</em>

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<div><br />

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<div><a href="https://www.lupus.org/resources/fact-sheets-and-toolkits-to-download" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lupus Foundation of America Resources</a>

</div>

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