Help Support My Health Battle & Medical Expenses

My name is Rose and I’m a disabled artist learning to navigate life with multiple chronic illnesses. In high school, I underwent a spinal surgery for severe scoliosis that failed and resulted in life threatening complications. I contracted multiple fatal blood infections and sepsis, and my health rapidly spiraled into a lethal place, where I underwent continuous IV antibiotics for months and required three major spinal surgeries spanning over 3 years.

The titanium spinal rods meant to last the rest of my life, rejected from my body, irreparably damaging my spine, with the left titanium rod eventually breaking inside me. I had developed an abscess that burst, causing recurrent staph infection and sepsis, which lead to chronic bone death in my spine. All of which are fatal without intervention. As a result, six discs in my thoracic spine were removed due to the bone death. They removed my old fusion, reconstructed my spine, and refused my entire thoracic & lumbar spine with extra metal and bone grafts from my ribs. This complicated surgical intervention and intense infections has left me with permanent damage, mobility restrictions, and caused other lifelong disabling limitations and pain that severely impact my day-to-day functioning and ability to survive and work.

Recently, I’ve been diagnosed with, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTS, Horner’s Syndrome, a CSF leak, severe chronic malnutrition and gallstones. I’m undergoing rigorous testing for further diagnoses as my doctors believe there are additional underlying conditions yet to be discovered that may be contributing to my symptoms.

While I do my best to maintain my part-time job, my symptoms have prevented me from working full-time for years. I am also often forced to miss my limited hours due to ongoing weekly Drs. appointments. I was in college pursuing my degree but was forced to leave due to repeated serious medical events. I have never received my driver’s license due to my symptoms, and I rely entirely on transportation services and the support of my loved ones in order to attend medical appointments, and my work.

I attend an average of 2-5 doctors' appointments a week, and have been increasing housebound due to my health decline. My health is the most severe it has been in years, and I am now facing new and intense testing and treatments requiring a feeding tube, blood patching, extensive testing, new medications, and possible surgery which will leave me unable to work during multiple serious recovery periods, creating a significant financial strain.

The funds raised here will go toward medical costs not covered by insurance, transportation to appointments, and helping me return to school to pursue my long-term career goals and gain more independence. Your support would make a world of difference as I work toward a healthier, more stable future. Thank you for considering contributing to my journey!