Hi Everyone,
As some of you know, I’ve been struggling with chronic illness for over 22 months. It's been a very difficult time, and has also become a financial burden on my parents, who I moved back in with in 2017 to help my dad beat stage 4 lung cancer. Thankfully, he is in 100% remission and is doing well. For the past several years I’ve been renting the basement and have been able to help my parents with bills, but since I’m too sick to work, my savings have been depleted. When I caught Covid in late October 2020 (before vaccines were available), I had no idea I would end up with Long Covid and then also be diagnosed with POTS, CFS, IBS, and PTSD.
Along the way, I’ve had to go to several hospitals and have seen countless doctors. There was even a time when my phosphorus levels were so low that I could have died. Although there are some symptoms I no longer have (such as full body tremors, and a total loss of appetite), what I’m still dealing with is extreme fatigue (I often need to rest in bed), tachycardia (simply walking up the steps or taking a shower raises my heart rate as high as 150bpm), shortness of breath (from walking or talking too much) brain fog (trouble focusing and forgetting things), lightheadedness, muscle weakness/stiffness/achiness, frequent bowel moments, stomach pain, trouble sleeping, anxiety, depression, chest pain, and post-exertional symptom exacerbation (exercising or doing too much makes my symptoms worse). On a positive note, I still have my voice, and every now and then I have the energy to sing. Prior to all of this, I exercised 5 days a week and was in the best shape of my life. To not be able to workout anymore has taken a toll on my mental health.
On top of all that, it was recently discovered that I have an anomalous right coronary artery (it’s on the wrong side) with a malignant course, and ischemia (something is interfering with the blood flow to my heart). The anomalous coronary artery is something I was born with that may have been exacerbated by Covid. I may need surgery for this, and am in the process of meeting with doctors to help me decide if it’s worth the risk.
I was hoping I’d be all better by now, and that raising money would not be needed, but I feel overwhelmed and have reached the point where I have no choice. My parents have gone above and beyond to help me and I want to reduce their stress. Much of what I’m raising will go toward groceries and medicine, which adds up to about $2,000 a month. Less financial stress will also enable me to focus more on healing. Please share this fundraiser with others, and if you can donate even a small amount, it would mean the world to me. Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this.
With Love and Gratitude,
Yaron