#Help to heal Erica Ellis

Hi my name is Erica Ellis and I am going to give an update on my GoFundMe. The short version is I went to the emergency room a couple of weeks ago with horrible pain that I thought was a hernia that needed surgery it is not a hernia. It is a baseball size tumor on my liver. Primary liver cancer. This just happened on the 21st of February 2023. My life is now turned on its head I have less than 3 weeks to get out of my apartment and drive 500 Miles back to San Francisco I have no clue how I'm going to accomplish this as I'm very ill. I need support and help with some financial needs.. I will put an update of what's going on.

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Hi everyone, I am Erica Ellis. I am starting this GoFundMe so that I can regain my health and Independence after years of illness and go back to work.

A LITTLE HISTORY

When I was four, my beatnik mom moved my family from upper state New York to San Francisco during the summer of love. With the exception of 3 years in Sausalito and seven in Pacifica, I lived in San Francisco from 1967 until January of 2020 when I relocated myself to Palm Desert Calif. I could no longer afford the high rents.

It was wonderful growing up in San Francisco in the seventies as well as the decades that followed. I became a waitress and worked some really great places, including Mel's drive-in on Geary and Stanyan Street for 17 years.

I was lead singer for the Keith Malaise Band in the early '80s, and we used to play at the Mabuhay Gardens and the Sound Of Music.

In the 90s, my good friend Johnny Nitro produced a CD for me with many wonderful musicians on it, including Stu Blank. I also spent much time sitting in with many different blues and r&b bands in San Francisco in the bay area. I formed many lasting friendships.

I've always been independent my whole life. As a single mother/waitress, I raised my son-which was no small feat in San Francisco. My son turned out great and I am very proud of him. However, prior to his arrival I had become addicted to drugs and alcohol.

As the years rolled by I decided to get clean and sober. It took three relapses, but I never gave up.

This november, I will celebrate 10 years without drugs and alcohol. my years of addiction took quite a toll on me and a 1982 I contracted the deadly hepatitis C virus. I would carry it for 32 years until I was finally cured in 2015.

I thought that would be the end of my health issues but the very next year I was prescribed a drug called lamictal by my GM which severely damaged my bladder. I went on to develop Interstitial cystitis, a very painful autoimmune disease of the bladder. This is when I became housebound and stopped singing.

I have been very diligent in my quest for healing for many years now, ditching gluten, dairy, caffeine and processed foods. I even quit smoking after 26 years.

Prior to my hepatitis C treatment I became seriously ill with pneumonia and was forced to quit my beloved job at Mel's Drive-In. Just as I was preparing to go back to work in 2018, my whole immune system collapsed.

At this time I became aware that I had a parasitic infection. I was tested twice but test came back negative. I knew they were false negatives and tried some holistic treatments. I felt a little bit better, at least for the time being.

Soon after I realized my only source of income (my IRA) was dwindling, and I concocted a plan to leave San Francisco.

I chose Palm Desert as my destination and I left San Francisco on January 22nd, 20/20. I made it to Palm Desert 6 weeks before a world pandemic hit.

ISOLATION

I have now been in complete isolation since my arrival in January of 2020, first because of the pandemic and then because I've because I've been so sick.

As my IRA dwindled I could no longer afford health insurance and was forced to terminate. My plan was to get my health together and go back to work by September of 2021.

Unfortunately I became aware of the parasitic infection again. My health took a serious turn for the worse.

I took out a cheaper policy which turned out to be a scam.

I tried to get Medi-Cal but they said I was ineligible.

I became seriously ill in the coming months experiencing nausea, inability to sleep, hair loss, rashes, severe chemical and light reactions, and almost zero gut motility.

I could barely walk up the stairs to my apartment and I became once again completely housebound, leaving only for food.

I begged the GM to send me to a disease infection specialist, but was refused without a positive stool sample.

There are many studies that show how these types of infections go undiagnosed because the medical establishment does not understand them.

I have read that the infection I have (Strongyloides) is very hard to detect and in some cases caught only 25% of the time with the inefficient lab testing. Also blood testing is advised which I only recently became aware of. I was only given stool test.

Because I was unable to get the treatment and medication I needed this situation has turned into a hyper infection and moved into my muscles and organs. All those years of hepatitis c and the interstitial cystitis lowered my immune system and made me susceptible. This can be fatal if left untreated.

Because of my stomach issues I was diagnosed with diastasis recti (separated abdominal wall) and an umbilical cord hernia. I have another hernia that still needs diagnosis.

Just as I was losing hope I found a way to get the life saving anti-helmenthic medications needed and I am currently treating myself.

I am making progress but must go slowly and cautiously because of my liver history.

I closed out my IRA 2 months ago because there is no money left in it.

As of November 1st 2022 I will have no way to pay my rent or bills.

I am terrified of becoming homeless and I am really struggling.

I need help for a few months while I am treating this hyper infection and separated abdominal wall and hernias. This time is crucial while I strengthen myself. it's been a few years since I've worked and waitressing is very physically demanding.

MY GOALS

I want to heal and go back to work. There are five star restaurants, hotels and casinos very close to my apartment.

I can't lose my apartment. I must have a safe place to live and heal.

I've never had to ask for help before and I've never been in such a scary position. I will be very grateful for any help I receive.

How money will be used

Rent

Medicine

Bills

Food

Blood work to make sure parasitic infection is healing and to check liver functions.

Update.. 3 weeks ago I had a dental emergency and was told I have a jawbone infection and need a lot of dental work including root canals, deep teeth cleaning and many other procedures. My goal is to hold on until I have a job with dental insurance so that I can then pay for it, however this jawbone infection is spreading and is quite serious. Because of this I need to have one tooth pulled immediately as this I believe is the cause of the infection. So I will need money just for that one tooth as I don't want to get ill when I finally start a new job.

My rent and bills excluding blood work and tooth pull come to $3,300 a month.

the thought of having a normal life again and being able to work is so exciting to me. I feel I have a shot at being happy and active and independent again. I came here to my new home in Palm Desert to find peace and healing. I just need a chance!

It's been such a long journey. I just want to be able to look back on it and marvel that I made it! Thank you for the taking the time to read my story.

With much gratitude, Erica Ellis.