My name is Whitney Stahl, and on January 8, 2024 a visit to the local emergency department for a suspected Multiple Sclerosis relapse turned into a discovery of over 30 nodules throughout my body, specifically in my lungs. After countless scans, multiple blood draws and oncology follow-ups with no set diagnosis, I returned to the emergency department on January 15th to be diagnosed with pneumonia. Standard protocol was followed with a dose of 2 IV antibiotics, followed up with the remaining oral doses. After continued decline, the local urgent care ordered me back to the ER to receive stronger IV antibiotics. I was admitted on Monday, January 29 to the emergency department in Morehead City, 45 minutes away from my family’s home in Swansboro. Biopsies were completed on nodules in my groin and samples of bone marrow were pulled, along with what seemed like a never-ending order of blood draws and scans. I was finally transferred and admitted to New Hanover Medical Center in Wilmington, almost 2 hours away from my family. We have an official diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, but are still awaiting confirmation on the type (T-Cell or Large B-Cell). Thankfully my parents were able to come down in their RV and stay at a campground down the road from the hospital, but my husband is still in Swansboro balancing 2 kids, 2 dogs, 3 cats, a full-time job and everything else that comes along with being a parent. Since moving from Clayton to Swansboro in November, money has been tight due to the relocation expenses, and Whitney being the sole provider until Tony was able to find a job which paid similar to what he was making in Raleigh. Now that Tony is having to play the role of both parents, he isn’t able to work a full schedule due to having to drop Michael off at daycare 30 minutes after he’s scheduled to be at work, and leave 30 minutes early to pick him up on time to avoid overcharges. We are not asking all of our bills, medical and household, to be covered. We are just asking for a little help. Whitney is in the process of getting short-term disability through her employer started, but once that period runs out, there is no long-term options. She is also in the process of filing for disability through Social Security Administration, which she is very familiar with thanks to her job, but it is still a long, drawn-out process that’s not always a guarantee. We know that times are tough for everyone, but even $10-$15 would be more than helpful, and every little bit helps one way or another. We don’t know how long this battle will go on, there are still a lot of unknowns in this equation, and we are trying to take it one day at a time. Even if you cannot donate financially, prayers are a huge help during this time of fear and uncertainty. Thank you all for reading this long story, and God bless.

—Whitney, Tony, Lily & Michael Stahl