Help Me Recover And Thrive!

Hello friend.

I need your help. I have created this fundraiser to ask for support in a difficult time.

The short read is; I have been very sick and have surgery coming in mid January. I have been out of work due to this and will not be able to return full time for quite awhile. I need assistance with housing and medical bills during this time. I am setting a goal of $5000 which will help me to cover rent, utilities, and part of my medical bills until I can return to work. Any contribution at all is greatly appreciated and helps me to rest and recover until I am able to thrive again on my own. Read further for more detail.

The longer read is; I became very ill for the first time at 14 years old when I contracted mononucleosis. The disease did permanent damage to my tonsils, and my immune system has not been the same since. After recovering from mono I started dealing with chronic recurrent tonsillitis, worsening with time. I have had 2-4 cases a year for the last five years. This year it became clear that my immune system was compromised when I contract COVID twice (once just before vaccination and once after) as well as a severe case of tonsillitis and now this case of strep/pneumonia. I am exhausted. It has been very difficult for me to build the life I want to live being as sick as I am, as often as I am.

This most recent bout; In mid-December, I became ill with a severe case of strep/pharyngitis which led to two ER visits, and eventually a hospitalization. I received blood work, a chest EKG and x-ray. I was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia (fluid in both lungs) - a secondary infection as a result of respirating bacteria from my tonsils when they were so inflamed that they blocked my airway. Over the course of one week I was given six different antibiotics and three different steroids. I know now that a shot of steroids to the arm is more painful than a shot of penicillin to the ass (haha). Neither is very fun. I also learned that I am allergic to amoxicillin - part of my hospitalization was due to a 102 degree fever and hives covering my body. I've never been so uncomfortable in my life.

What's coming next; I am still in rest and recovery mode. I am taking two different broad spectrum antibiotics and clearing fluid from my lungs. My tonsils are much improved, and I can now breathe, swallow, and talk (yay!) though they are still inflamed and very scarred. I met with an ENT doctor to discuss tonsillectomy last week. We have tentatively set a surgery date for Thursday, January 13th 2022. I will be recovering until then. We want my immune system as strong as possible before invasive surgery.

About the surgery; Tonsillectomy is not a very complicated surgery but there are risks involved and a fairly painful and long recovery (10-14 days of open wounds in the throat). Tonsillectomy used to be almost standard for children (recovery is faster for kids) but is no longer routinely performed and there are higher risks involved for adults (extreme dehydration and bleeding which leads to hospitalization or return to O.R. in 1/20 cases). Due to this, surgeons and insurance companies require certain criteria to be met before this surgery can be performed and that criteria is as follows: 6 cases in a year, 5 cases a year for 2 consecutive years, 4 cases a year for 3 consecutive years, 3 cases a year for 4 consecutive years. I have now met and surpassed this criteria, so I get surgery (also yay!)

The Goal; This tonsillectomy will be challenging, but once I'm recovered I should lead a much healthier and happier life. It has been proven especially for chronic sufferers that having tonsils removed significantly reduces rate of infection.

By Donating; you are providing aid to me in a difficult time, helping to ease my suffering and contributing to a future where I can not only be healthy - I can thrive. I so appreciate you reading this and supporting me in any way you can. Thank you for being a part of my community. I can't wait to feel better and share with you the best of me <3