Road to Recovery - Candace's Story

Hi!  I'm Candace.... and this is my story....


My name is Candace Boyd and I've always been a very outgoing and loving person who truly tries to make the world a better place.   I enjoy volunteer work and fostering animals who need homes and love until we can find their forever homes with caring and loving people like you.  My main career has been that of a stagehand, making concerts, Broadway plays, and musicals happen for the enjoyment of others.


I love my job... 


it has always given me a sense of accomplishment and the smiles on thousands of faces at the end of the night made all my hard work worth it.


I've always been a very outgoing and social person... 


And truly a nerd at heart:





That is until September 29th.. when my world changed.....



I went into the hospital having convulsions every three to five minutes for three days.   Afterwards, I would never be the same....


I had always struggled with BiPolar Disorder, making my everyday difficult enough with constantly changing emotions and fighting to appear normal to those around me.



But after that day,  I discovered a new side of myself.  An anxious and terrified side.  A side that made everything dark and simple social situations, that I would have normally enjoyed, impossible.  I was diagnosed with Sudden Onset Accute Agoraphobia.  



Simple tasks like going to the grocery store became nearly impossible without a panic attack...




The world around me would blur and my heart would race..... I started fearing going to these places... I felt like they could see through to all of my flaws.


I didn't want to leave..


I felt trapped...


My world was tearing itself apart from the inside out.  I felt normal.  I felt like myself... like I could still handle anything and take on the world.  I could go to walmart and be fine..... until I got there.  Until the anxiety set in again and the sudden reminder that you weren't you anymore... you were different and there was no escape.


I went on FMLA, unable to work any longer.... FMLA doesn't pay....   a month... two months... three months... 

Why am I not getting better? 

I lost my house...

I lost my car...

I lost my job...

My dog developed a tumor on his eye that was inoperable and my cat had kidney failure.... I lost them both....

Then my aunt died.... 

My marriage fell apart...

I sold everything I owned of value to make my bills...

I thought I had lost everything and was ready to give up....   My bipolar had sank into a depression of the likes I had never experienced.... 


That's where Helen and Atlas come in...

This is Helen:


She is a dog trainer who volunteered her time and energy to help me train a puppy to be a service dog for me and give me my life back.  She has never asked for anything in return.  If I have an attack in public, she will come immediately to my aid and help me take control of the situation.


And this handsome man is Atlas:


He has changed my world.  He makes it possible to go into public again; though I am not entirely without anxiety attacks... he makes it a million times better.  I named him Atlas after the titan who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, as he carries the weight of my world for me.



I've applied for disability now, though I still cannot work, and it may take months for me to be approved.  

I want to get back on my feet, and despirately want to repay these people for their kindness somehow....  That's where GoFundMe and  you come in...




Help me support those who supported me during this trying time and also help me to get back onto my feet again by getting my own place to stay and a vehicle to get me to doctor appointments and money to buy my medicines.


Your donation will give me back my independence and life again...  It will help me get Atlas his own medical needs such as neutering and any shots he may need, while supporting me until my disability kicks in and I can support myself once again.


I am ready to fight again.... but I can't do it alone. 



Be my weapon in this war I am waging internally and externally.  Help me to become myself again.


Be the one to bring the beauty and color back to my life.