Six years ago, my life changed when I suddenly began experiencing joint pain while I was midway through my master's degree. After delays due to the pandemic and lots of tests, I was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disease that causes significant pain, stiffness, and fatigue throughout my body and long-term damage to joints/connective tissues and even organs.
For a few years after diagnosis I managed to get by with medication and pure grit, but two years ago the pain became more severe and one of my medications became a lot harder to access. This has limited my daily physical functioning and my ability to earn enough money for everything (daily expenses, medical expenses, professional expenses, etc), and has eaten through my savings. The licensing process for mental health workers is complex and expensive anyway, but these health issues have delayed my progress in getting fully licensed while still working. (The longest I've heard was seven years, and I'm on track to be fully licensed this summer at six years post-graduation, so there's that!) In the past six months, new health complications have also come up, possibly related to the primary disease, though I’m still seeking answers.
The combination of health issues and financial strain has been overwhelming. I had to move out of my own apartment to live with loved ones and my credit score is shot; stress is a known contributor to autoimmune disease activity and I'm pretty sure my body's been in a constant state of fight or flight for two or more years now. But I've had friends and family help in so many wonderful ways including help with moving, meals, rides to medical appointments, and staying in touch with supportive messages. Asking for money now feels incredibly vulnerable at a time when the economy is getting harder on everyone. But when people have asked lately how they can help, the hard truth is that the thing that can really get me through this hard time and on to the other side of it is some financial help.
Despite these challenges, I am determined to keep moving forward! Financial help will go towards:
- medical expenses
- other debts accrued during this time of physical and financial hardship
- getting back up to a better baseline of physical health, knowing that I won't ever be cured, but remission might be possible! - I have an appointment March 26th to see about different medication options, and with financial help I can pursue physical therapy and other guided exercise options to safely restore areas of decreased mobility and functioning
- complete the expensive licensing process for my career, which will increase my employment options in any capacity (salaried, contracted, self-employed) and restore financial security
I would be so grateful for anything, given in name or anonymously, to help me through this tough time in my life. With your support, I hope to rebuild my health and professional capacity, and one day pay it forward to others in need. Thank you for considering helping me on this journey.
Much love,
Sarah
(PS. Photos with niece and nephew because they are the only recent-ish photos I have, but since Go Fund Me is a public site I'm blocking out their precious little faces for their own privacy!)