It's Hard To Ask For Help
Donation protected
Hello dear friends,
I’ve lived my life with joy and love and have always tried to share that with others. Service work is, and will always be, a top priority in my life. Asking for help is not in my nature but this is a very overwhelming time for me and my family. I am reaching out in all ways possible to look for financial as well as emotional support to get us through this scary & difficult time.
Since April of this year my partner Mark Drummond has been suffering from a disease called Dermatomyositis. It’s a very rare autoimmune disease affecting the skin & muscles. One of the debilitating complications from Dermatomyositis is a syndrome known as “Mechanics Hands”, an inflammatory change in the skin and muscles of the hands which causes excruciating pain. As a Maine fishing guide and boat builder, Marks living depends on his hands. Currently he is unable to work, drive his truck, not to mention losing the ability to continue enjoying his passion of flyfishing.
Mark has lost a tremendous amount of weight and is weak so physical therapy will be something to consider once he gains his strength back.
We are trying to remain hopeful and are very grateful for the wonderful care he is receiving from his dermatologist, rheumatologist, primary care physician & specialists here in Maine and Boston. There is a chance he can get in a clinical trial at Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital which would be a great opportunity as their research & knowledge could hopefully lead to manageability of this disease.
If you would like to learn more about this disease, visit theses web sites:
https://www.brighamandwomens.org/medicine/rheumatology-immunology-allergy/services/polymyositis-and-dermatomyositis
https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6263/dermatomyositis
If you have or have had someone in your life suffering from a debilitating illness then you know how scary & overwhelming it can be. Worrying about getting the right diagnosis and medical care without health insurance has been daunting. The medical bills along with the day-to-day living expenses has become a daily game of deciding which bills to pay and whether I can continue to work or if I should stay at home to be the care giver. Exhaustion is setting in for sure as we are losing sleep over so many concerns and unknowns.
So friends, here I am, overwhelmed, asking for help. Life is dishing out more than I can handle alone.
Any support would be a blessing and Mark, Elsie and I give much thanks to all those who can help our cause and make things just a little bit easier on us.
With much love and appreciation,
Georgianna Ritter, Mark Drummond & daughter Elsie Drummond
Please note all monies received above our goal will be donated to York Community Action
I’ve lived my life with joy and love and have always tried to share that with others. Service work is, and will always be, a top priority in my life. Asking for help is not in my nature but this is a very overwhelming time for me and my family. I am reaching out in all ways possible to look for financial as well as emotional support to get us through this scary & difficult time.
Since April of this year my partner Mark Drummond has been suffering from a disease called Dermatomyositis. It’s a very rare autoimmune disease affecting the skin & muscles. One of the debilitating complications from Dermatomyositis is a syndrome known as “Mechanics Hands”, an inflammatory change in the skin and muscles of the hands which causes excruciating pain. As a Maine fishing guide and boat builder, Marks living depends on his hands. Currently he is unable to work, drive his truck, not to mention losing the ability to continue enjoying his passion of flyfishing.
Mark has lost a tremendous amount of weight and is weak so physical therapy will be something to consider once he gains his strength back.
We are trying to remain hopeful and are very grateful for the wonderful care he is receiving from his dermatologist, rheumatologist, primary care physician & specialists here in Maine and Boston. There is a chance he can get in a clinical trial at Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital which would be a great opportunity as their research & knowledge could hopefully lead to manageability of this disease.
If you would like to learn more about this disease, visit theses web sites:
https://www.brighamandwomens.org/medicine/rheumatology-immunology-allergy/services/polymyositis-and-dermatomyositis
https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6263/dermatomyositis
If you have or have had someone in your life suffering from a debilitating illness then you know how scary & overwhelming it can be. Worrying about getting the right diagnosis and medical care without health insurance has been daunting. The medical bills along with the day-to-day living expenses has become a daily game of deciding which bills to pay and whether I can continue to work or if I should stay at home to be the care giver. Exhaustion is setting in for sure as we are losing sleep over so many concerns and unknowns.
So friends, here I am, overwhelmed, asking for help. Life is dishing out more than I can handle alone.
Any support would be a blessing and Mark, Elsie and I give much thanks to all those who can help our cause and make things just a little bit easier on us.
With much love and appreciation,
Georgianna Ritter, Mark Drummond & daughter Elsie Drummond
Please note all monies received above our goal will be donated to York Community Action
Organizer
Georgianna Ritter
Organizer
Kittery, ME
