Jonathan Buckley

Note: I originally started this fundraiser to cover only my medical transportation home. It has now been expanded to cover both my transport home and the expensive private medical care I need in Pittsburgh. More than 4 years ago, shortly after graduating college, I contracted COVID-19. The infection was not severe and I expected a normal recovery. Unfortunately, my health never returned and has continued to decline to a severe state, worsening each year. I am now 100% housebound and am 90% bedbound. This means I am unable to safely leave the house and I must lie in bed approximately 90% of my day to avoid further deterioration of my condition. Most of this time must be spent in a low-stimulation environment—I stay in a darkened room because light, sound, and cognitive stimulation trigger worsening of my neurological symptoms. Even a 20-minute virtual doctor appointment causes a multi-day crash. I have an official diagnosis of Long COVID and am currently in the process of being diagnosed with several other severe neuro-immune conditions that have greatly limited my ability to function. ​The Situation I moved to Arizona with my brother in 2023, but he had to move back home a year later. Since then, I have been managing on my own, but my health has continued to decline. I now struggle with basic daily tasks like mail, trash, and cleaning. I rely on neighbors to help with these chores. During bad flare-ups, I’m sometimes forced to choose between bathing or eating because I'm unable to do both. ​I’ve realized that I can no longer safely live without nearby support. I need to move to Pittsburgh to be near my family to get reliable support. Because of my illness, I am unable to work enough to cover my monthly expenses. I'm asking for your support to make this move safely. ​The Logistics Moving 2,100+ miles is a massive undertaking for someone with my condition. I experience Post-Exertional Neuroimmune Exhaustion (PENE), which means even small amounts of activity can trigger a neuroimmune crash that lasts for weeks or months. Sometimes, these events are unrecoverable. ​While I can sit up for short periods to cook or eat, I cannot sit upright in a car or plane for the 30+ hours required to get across the country. The noise, vibration, and physical strain would cause a severe, long-term (or permanent) deterioration of my health. The only medically safe option is a non-emergency transport that lets me lie flat for the entire trip, leaving the vehicle only for hotel stops. ​The Cost Here is where the $15,000 goes: Transport home: $6,000. A non-emergency transport that lets me lie flat for the entire 2,100+ mile trip. It is the only medically safe way for me to make the journey. Other moving costs: $2,000. Medical care insurance won't cover: about $7,000. Over the nearly five years I've been sick, the appointments my insurance covers haven't been able to do much for me. The specialized care I actually need isn't covered by insurance, and those appointments can cost thousands of dollars each. That's where the rest of this fund goes. ​I am asking for your help to get me home safely. This move is about finding a sustainable way to live with this illness and giving myself the best chance at stability. Your donation doesn't just help me move. It directly prevents long-term worsening of my condition. ​Thank you for your support and for helping me get back to my family.