On February 18th, after working my morning shift, I noticed petechia on my hip and my legs were aching. I called the advice nurse line and was told to go to the ER. I was sent home after my basic blood work came back normal. The next morning, I woke up and my legs would not move. Later that day, I was admitted to the hospital. I stayed in the hospital for a week, where tons of tests were run, including a spinal tap and numerous vitamins, as I am typically both iron and B12 deficient—all were normal. I was released from the hospital and came home where my family set up a makeshift room for me in our sitting room. I was completely unable to move my lower body. I had to use a Hoyer lift, a wheelchair, a commode, and depended on my family for everything. I’m closing in on two months from this onset. I still have weakness and limitations to my coordination. I have no answers yet, and I don’t start PT for another week. The health system is overwhelmed and slow, so my diagnosis and recovery are slow.

Next Friday, I am scheduled for carpal tunnel surgery that I have been waiting for, for years. This will limit my mobility yet again because I am currently using a walker and wheelchair to get around and won’t have usage of my dominant hand.

While emotionally and physically, I am managing, financially I am struggling. I have been fighting The Standard for my short-term disability and PFML since February. I cannot count the hours that I have spent on the phone with them, attempting to get things settled so I can get paid and pay my bills. As of now, I have not had a full check since February 20th. I have overdue bills, and the calls are coming in demanding payment. As of now, The Standard has only accepted my documentation of disability for 2 weeks of pay. Last week, I was told there would be a check coming. Now, I’m told I have been denied. This has been my experience for weeks now, told one thing one day and the next told another. I’m not giving up the fight, as I am completely within the needs and such of receiving pay; this is just bureaucracy and ineptitude of a system. In the meantime, I feel like I’m drowning in the anxiety that comes from not paying my bills.

So, I’m swallowing my pride and asking for help. I need to pay my pet insurance, car payment and pay my parents back for covering my car insurance. My dad was part of the Intel layoffs back in November and they don’t need my bills to pay in addition to their own.

Any help is appreciated beyond belief!