As you may be aware, roughly 6 months ago, I started a journey to heal my body. For those that don't know, I have a malfunctioning Autonomic Nervous System ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_nervous_system ) that is largely a result of a genetic connective tissue disorder (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), that has created something called Craniocervical Instability ( https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/2017-eds-classification-non-experts/neurological-spinal-manifestations-ehlers-danlos-syndromes/ ). This has created a myriad of health problems ranging from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome ( https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-pots ), to having my digestive system shut down (or work in overdrive), to causing seizure like conditions known as dystonias (the list of conditions is lengthy, I only mention a few). I've been unable to work for over 3 years now, as a result, and years ago, I ran through what savings I had. Despite my efforts (and an attorney), I'm in a stalemate with the Social Security Administration regarding Disability; stuck in the appeals process. All of this forced me back to live with my parents for the first time in 20 years. And until recently, I've been playing a game of hurry up and wait... For my brain, nervous system, and the rest of my body to finally give out, or for some sort of miracle to open a path to healing. Six months ago, a very generous person reached out to me, and offered me hope, in the form of some (unconventional) medical treatments with a physician outside of Philadelphia. He both funded my trip as well as paid for the 3 weeks worth of daily, 4-6 hour, one-on-one, hands on treatment. In the process of getting the treatment, the above mentioned health conditions were discovered. The truly amazing thing is that I was given the tools and my brain has been "retrained." What was taking 23 different prescription medications, multiple times a day, was now being managed by just a handful of medications. Since I've been back in Alabama, I've been able to quit all but one of those medicines and currently take one (1) pill a day. I then spent the 9 weeks travelling across the NE US, seeing specialists, having invasive testing done, as well as a lot of imaging. The findings from these doctors and testing were frankly, grim. Right now, and for an unknown length of time, my brain stem and the top of my spinal cord are getting jarred around, essentially short circuiting my nervous system. I experience concussion like symptoms, extreme migraine-like headaches, experience facial paralysis, and even at times, go blind in my right eye. No one can/will tell me exactly what will happen to me, should this continue, but from what I have been able to read, the temporary conditions that occur when the brain and nerves are impinged upon, will become permanent. Another, real and ever present danger, is a fall or jarring motion (from say a minor car wreck, or even sneezing the wrong way) causing major damage or death. What's the solution? Right now, I'm wearing a cervical collar 24/7 (minus showers, driving and eating) to provide stability to my neck/skull, as well as reduce the pressure on my brain stem/spinal cord/nerves. It's not a permanent solution by any means. The permanent solution seems to be surgery. The problem is, it fixes the physiological problem, but the damage the surgery can do to the brain, nervous system, is unknown. Regardless of whether or not I choose surgery, I have been informed that I am going to need "long term/life-long" care. I start that process of establishing a team of doctors to see after my health conditions, beginning after the middle of January. This is taking me on a path that will eventually lead me to relocate to Maryland, DC, or Pennsylvania. The problem: I can't get the care I need where I am currently living, nor do I have a support network here in Alabama. This includes finances. My family isn't able to help provide me with the funds for my medical expenses nor my travel and accommodation. Up until this point, I've been able to rely upon a "sponsor" to foot my bill, but the trip ended up being a much larger burden than he (or I ) could ever imagine. For that reason, he asked that I ask for outside help to ease the financial responsibility he has promised going forward... At least until some promising investment and financial opportunities fall into place, and there are some more appropriate venues in place to be able to continue my care, but to afford others like me, some of the same opportunities that I've been blessed with. The solution: I've created this gofundme to help cover my travelling expenses to get me back up North, and out of pocket costs for my healthcare. I currently have subsidized, private insurance, which is a tremendous benefit. There are still expenses though. The amount I'm listing as needed for this, is simply an estimate. Until more is known and a bet