Support Vi's Ongoing Medical Care... Please :')

Hi! My name's Vi, and I’m 27 years old. In 2019, I was hit by a car while riding my bike and suffered a head injury. I was out of work for two months, and I did not receive necessary medical care due to money troubles. While this was not my first head injury, it was the first time I experienced widespread pain, and since then, I've dealt with several health issues.

About two years after the accident, I started experiencing numbness in my leg and hand, along with worsening pain. An MRI revealed spinal stenosis in three areas of my back, which means my vertebrae compress my nerves. Later, I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which adds more widespread pain and fatigue.

I've had to make a number of lifestyle changes to help manage my pain, and if I'm being honest, I haven't always done so gracefully. It's been difficult to accept my body where it's at now. About a year ago, I left the food and beverage service industry, where I'd worked since I was 14, for an office job in healthcare admin, which helps mitigate my pain, provides health benefits, and allows some PTO. While the job is notably easier on my body, I still live with daily pain, require regular medical care, and earn significantly less, which creates stress and has led to medical debt.

I've been cramming in lots of medical care before my deductible resets in January, and this week, I had appointments for therapy, a surgery consult, and overdue dental work. On Tuesday of the same week, I started experiencing unusual symptoms like chest pain and wound up in urgent care. After an abnormal EKG, urgent care sent me to the ER for further testing, where they eventually ruled out anything immediately life-threatening. I was relieved to be discharged; however, there are still concerns about my heart that need to be addressed with more imaging and tests soon.

I am scared. I feel out of my depth trying to address multiple health concerns at once, but the most anxiety-inducing aspect has been cost. In the past, I've allowed financial stress to dictate whether or not I receive medical care. This is something far too many people can relate to, but I am trying my best to prioritize my health now. A potential heart condition seems like the kind of thing you want to follow through on, so I am asking for your kindness and support. Any funds received will go towards outstanding medical bills accrued this year, the remainder of my follow-up care this month, and my regular care in the first few months of the new year. For full transparency, the goal we came up with is based on my out-of-pocket maximum for this year plus half of next year's out-of-pocket maximum.

It feels vulnerable and humbling to write this and to ask for help in such a big way. I know times are tough for most of us, but any help you can provide would be immensely appreciated, whether that be contributing to or sharing this fundraiser. Your support will make a massive difference in my security and stress management while I continue navigating my health. Thank you so much for considering my request.