A more noble cause than Gorilla Glue hairspray!

A very dear friend to me and my husband recently contracted Covid while working as a respiratory therapist in Tucson. She had a very rough time and only barely avoided hospitalization for her (extremely scary) symptoms. Unfortunately, she now falls into a category known as Long Covid. The doctors have run a battery of tests and can’t seem to pinpoint why she is still suffering heart irregularities and lung issues. Janelle is now on 8+ medications and inhalers while the doctors continue to, as she likes to put it, “throw spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks.” Janelle is one of those people that would NEVER ask for help, which is why I originally tried to do this fundraiser as a surprise. She is always ready to help other people, but would never want anything in return. She is a sunny, positive, and genuinely good-hearted person, no matter what life throws at her. She dedicated this past year to patients in the Covid ICUs, constantly worrying about her own health, but never saying no to the long/extra hours as she fought for every patient. I know it took a mental toll on her, watching so many people lose their battles, and it can’t have helped her physical health either. She was only 5 days away from getting her vaccine as a front-line worker, when she got sick, and now they won’t even approve her short-term disability. The doctors have told her it will be several months before she can return to “light duty,” they “think.” Because they still don’t know exactly what’s wrong, she doesn’t even know if she will ever be able to return to the physical requirements of her job. I remember how excited she was to start school to become a respiratory therapist; she couldn’t wait to help people. It even happened she was interning in the same hospital my dad was in when he became ill. She would take her breaks and go check on him and let us know how he was doing and ease our minds. It’s increasingly difficult these days to find people in this world that are truly good in their souls. Janelle is one of those people and it’s breaking my heart to watch her struggle with her mental, emotional, and physical health while also worrying about paying her bills. She even draws beautiful postcards to supplement her income, so it’s not like she’s just sitting on her ass hoping her disability finally gets approved. She is doing all she can, and I really want to do all I can FOR her. All of the donations will go straight to her for medical and bills. I know times are tough all around, so if you can’t donate, please share as much as possible. Thank you for reading this far and helping me help a friend!!