Jump-Start Jonathan's Recovery

My name is Jonathan Gutierrez, and I'm trying to recover from disability.  I've been battling symptoms of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome  for over 10 years, along with Erb's Palsy and Repetitive Strain Injuries. I am disabled and unable to work, and my social security application was denied.

POTS is a type of dysautonomia, which is a dysfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System. My symptoms include severe and debilitating fatigue, difficulty thinking/concentrating, heart palpitations, sleep disturbances, lightheadedness, many new food sensitivities, mild disequilibrium, vision problems, chronic indigestion, muscle aches, muscle wasting/weight loss, mood swings, anxiety, blood pressure problems, heat and cold intolerance, and orthostatic intolerance (meaning I can't stand up for long periods  without feeling exhausted and weak). I also have lots of allergies which are not well-controlled by medication and exacerbate my symptoms. The word syndrome is used when doctors don't know the cause, but thankfully there are treatment options.

As you can tell from my photo, I have also had Erb's Palsy in my left arm since my traumatic birth. What you can't see, though, is that I have also injured my right arm over the years by working with one arm on the computer. This caused severe RSI (repetitive strain injuries) on my right arm as well. As you can imagine, this just adds another layer of disability and despair.

I do not have insurance, but many of my treatment options would not be covered anyway. These conditions are difficult to treat and often require clinicians not covered by insurance. The successful treatments for  Chronic Fatigue patients, for example, are not typically available in a public hospital. We have spent many years and thousands of dollars just to reach some kind of diagnosis. My now elderly parents have gone above and beyond the call of duty despite their own problems, including complications of diabetes, cardiac disease, and injuries. We're pretty much out of options, hence this fundraiser.

Because of the multitude of symptoms and the nature of "syndromes," multiple treatment modalities are needed to achieve a full recovery. 

**Phase 1**
Here are some of the initial treatments I will be pursuing:

POTS treatment center in Dallas ($5,000)

Physical Rehabilitation with Dr. Alan Bonebrake  of Pain and Fibromyalgia Center in Plano, Tx ($3,000 +)

Sleep Study ($800)

Autonomic Testing or Neuropathy Blood Panel  ($2,000)

Neurotologist (Balance Specialist)
and possible vestibular therapy ($1,000 +++)

Functional Medicine Testing for Chronic Fatigue Specialist  ($3,000 +++)

Nutritional Program for CFS patients ($250 per month for 1-2 years for a total of $3,000 - $6,000)

Follow-up with Cardiologist (few hundred dollars)

**Phase 2**
Getting my life back

The road to full recovery will likely be a long one. God-willing, as my health improves, I will work on getting my life back. Since it will likely be some time before I could work at a regular job, I plan to gradually work from home with an online business. Therefore, any remaining funds will be used to launch a website so I can regain my livelihood.

Every gift is appreciated, no matter how small. Please click on the Donate button to make your donation.