My name is Autumn Skylar, I was an actor, singer, model, and disability advocate, and I am sick.

I have been sick for the past 10 years with a list of disabilitating conditions about a mile long as a result of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

However, this past year my disabilities have completely taken over my life. Right now, we do not know why there has been such an acceleration. I've fought through brain surgeries and cranialcervical fusions and an ostomy bag, but none of those journeys come close to how I am feeling right now. My pain is worse than it has ever been, and we have no idea why. I have indescribably debilitating dizziness that keeps me unable to be upright for long periods. About one to two times a week I have such severe pain I will spend hours inconsolable.

I spend my days in bed, as flat as could be doing as little as possible, and still none of it is enough to make these symptoms go away. I am losing my life to what is wrong with me, and we don't know what that is. The current theory is it is some flavor of autoimmune, something that has been thrown around for years but never fully explored.

My doctors and I are fighting to get to the bottom of my rapidly increasing decline, but it is about to become more expensive then ever. November 1st I will be losing the health insurance I have because I will be aged out of coverage under my mother's work insurance. I will be forced to go onto Medicaid, and the amount of medical debt is about to become an insurmountable feat. We already have bills in collections we haven't been able to pay from my current insurance, but the bills are going to pile up in greater amounts.

We believe I have autoimmune as I have positive test results, ones I have had for years, but have always been dismissed as "false positives". However, steroids have always been the one thing that have gotten me out of these flares and the ever growing and worsening symptoms all point to some form of autoimmune. It is an uphill battle we are fighting to get answers.

I have been fighting a 5 year battle with disability to get coverage and monthly payments, but that battle is still ongoing. I am awaiting a 4th hearing date that will not be until next year, and it takes an average of 6 to 9 months from that hearing date to get a decision. I have an lawyer who has been working with me for the past few years, but the courts are so backed up there isn't anything that can be done to speed this process along.

To get to the bottom of what is going on with me medically is going to involve some very specialized doctors and tests that currently are expensive, but are soon to be impossible. I also am in need of upgraded mobility aides as all of mine are about 7 years old and can barely get the job done. I need help affording a new standard wheelchair as well as a power wheelchair as my arms a lot of times are not strong enough to push myself. Now, because my insurance as it is refuses to upgrade what I currently am working with, we have not been able to get any better equipment covered. Starting November 1st I will be on Medicaid, and the approval process will be even harsher.

We also owe over 2,000 dollars currently in medical debt to different hospitals and doctors offices.

All I want is to have my life and my independence back. I have such big dreams for my future that can't take place if I am stuck living life from my bed.

Please, if you can donate that would mean everything to me and my family to help us stay out of severe debt. If you can't donate, I ask that you share so we can get the word out. Thank you so much.