Help Allison catch up on bills!
Donation protected
My name is Allison, I am 25-years old and I am living with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic chronic-on-terminal illness. I had a very hard time bringing myself to create this page, because I have always had pride in being able to take care of myself. And then winter of 2014 happened. I had been fighting off a mild respiratory infection since early December, but once New Years came, it had worsened, and heavier antibiotics and hospitalization had to come into play. Since around New Years I have been fighting continual lung infections: a buildup and colonization of Staphylococcus and other varied bacteria, they had found a nice warm spot to call home in my chest. Because of the constant, deep, severe respiratory infections, lung functionality of only 33%, and a total of almost 20lbs of body weight lost, this winter has been nearly impossible for me to function or live my "normal" life. Between New Years up until now (April 18th), I can count on two hands how many times I've made an attempt to return to work. That's FOUR MONTHS without working.
Since around January 1st, I have been on a continual regimen of antibiotics - switching between oral doses and also doing weeks via IV. I had spent all of December feeling like crap, then ALL of January and HALF of February bedridden. After dealing with a severe infection and weeks worth of intravenous antibiotics, and not being active for a month and a half, my body was weak. Still not feeling great, but knowing I needed to get back to living my normal life, I returned to work within the next few days for ONE shift. After that, I was back in bed with high fevers, nausea and vomiting, and what I thought was a stomach virus. However, after being on weeks worth of heavy antibiotics, it was the bacteria in my lungs that was not responding to treatment. I had to do two more weeks of antibiotics, back in bed, feeling awful. After those few weeks, I start feeling a bit better. Not at my best, but I go to work a few times. I pick up a terrible dry cough for a day or two, and the next day I'm stuck in bed with the FLU, for a week and a half, even though I received a flu shot. This brings us to about mid-March.
After that, it's a repeating story of feeling better for a day or two, then having had come down with another respiratory infection.. which brings us to the current day, April 18th, where I am fighting through another Staph infection in my lungs with yet another round of oral antibiotics, and not having worked for the past week.
I don't go into detail about being sick and not feeling well because I expect random people to understand my illness, but because I want people to really understand what an "invisible illness" is and how greatly it actually effects those suffering. We may look OK or presentable on the outside, but here I am going on 4+ months sick without working, without being able to pay my bills. That's a tough situation for anybody.
Which leads to my purpose behind this: I can't pay my bills. I have been keeping my head above water until now, draining my savings, and using major credit cards for everyday expenses. For things like groceries and food, gas, vet bills, medical bills, prescription costs, etc. Since this has been going on for months, my situation has reached a point where I have to move back in with my parents because I can no longer afford to rent, I am behind these past few months on utility bills, and I have almost maxed-out my credit cards. Simply put, I am out of resources.
I hate asking here, but I am to a point where I am desperate to not have money be a burden. I don't know if anyone will help my cause, but any help will be the greatest help, even if it means I'll only be able to pay one bill from what's accumulated on this page. So in advance, World, I want to thank you.
Being sick is not for the poor!
Also, I conveniently placed a link to the Wikipedia page on Cystic Fibrosis if anyone is interested in educating themselves further on the topic. And I won't link it, but to any person who wants to donate on a larger scale, to the cause itself, PLEASE don't hesitate to donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF)! They are the organization largely responsible for many of the scientific advances we've had, and in management and treatment of this disease. Thank you! I know others like myself appreciate the generosity!
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystic_fibrosis
Since around January 1st, I have been on a continual regimen of antibiotics - switching between oral doses and also doing weeks via IV. I had spent all of December feeling like crap, then ALL of January and HALF of February bedridden. After dealing with a severe infection and weeks worth of intravenous antibiotics, and not being active for a month and a half, my body was weak. Still not feeling great, but knowing I needed to get back to living my normal life, I returned to work within the next few days for ONE shift. After that, I was back in bed with high fevers, nausea and vomiting, and what I thought was a stomach virus. However, after being on weeks worth of heavy antibiotics, it was the bacteria in my lungs that was not responding to treatment. I had to do two more weeks of antibiotics, back in bed, feeling awful. After those few weeks, I start feeling a bit better. Not at my best, but I go to work a few times. I pick up a terrible dry cough for a day or two, and the next day I'm stuck in bed with the FLU, for a week and a half, even though I received a flu shot. This brings us to about mid-March.
After that, it's a repeating story of feeling better for a day or two, then having had come down with another respiratory infection.. which brings us to the current day, April 18th, where I am fighting through another Staph infection in my lungs with yet another round of oral antibiotics, and not having worked for the past week.
I don't go into detail about being sick and not feeling well because I expect random people to understand my illness, but because I want people to really understand what an "invisible illness" is and how greatly it actually effects those suffering. We may look OK or presentable on the outside, but here I am going on 4+ months sick without working, without being able to pay my bills. That's a tough situation for anybody.
Which leads to my purpose behind this: I can't pay my bills. I have been keeping my head above water until now, draining my savings, and using major credit cards for everyday expenses. For things like groceries and food, gas, vet bills, medical bills, prescription costs, etc. Since this has been going on for months, my situation has reached a point where I have to move back in with my parents because I can no longer afford to rent, I am behind these past few months on utility bills, and I have almost maxed-out my credit cards. Simply put, I am out of resources.
I hate asking here, but I am to a point where I am desperate to not have money be a burden. I don't know if anyone will help my cause, but any help will be the greatest help, even if it means I'll only be able to pay one bill from what's accumulated on this page. So in advance, World, I want to thank you.
Being sick is not for the poor!
Also, I conveniently placed a link to the Wikipedia page on Cystic Fibrosis if anyone is interested in educating themselves further on the topic. And I won't link it, but to any person who wants to donate on a larger scale, to the cause itself, PLEASE don't hesitate to donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF)! They are the organization largely responsible for many of the scientific advances we've had, and in management and treatment of this disease. Thank you! I know others like myself appreciate the generosity!
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystic_fibrosis
Organizer
Allison Wrobleski
Organizer
Jefferson Township, NJ