Support Greer's Fight Against Long Covid

Rebecca Terry is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Greer Hoffmann.

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On behalf of Greer’s family, including her husband and son, Patrick & Eamon; her mom, Betsy; her siblings, Ellen, Amy & Ward; and their respective spouses, Susan, Bill & Michelle, I would like to ask for your support. As many of our shared friends and family already know, my best friend Greer has been suffering from Long Covid for almost two years now. She was a stellar nurse practitioner and an avid hiker, biker, skier, and runner before contracting COVID-19 in July of 2022. After being on the front lines treating COVID throughout the pandemic, she finally contracted it herself. And unlike the many millions of people who recovered easily, she was not as fortunate. Greer was slammed with a severe initial infection that changed her life overnight. She has never been the same.

One of the most active, vibrant people I have ever known has been fighting to revive a body and brain that has turned against her. Greer can no longer work, let alone run or hike. It is incredibly shocking how little she can enjoy in daily life. Although there is no cure for Long Covid, Greer has tried numerous recommended treatments with no success. She has navigated the healthcare system essentially alone, and has finally been able to access a medication named Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) that is helping. But it is extremely costly and is something she needs for the foreseeable future.

Before IVIG, basic daily functions of life were very hard. The simple things most take for granted, like getting dressed, sitting at the dinner table with her son and husband, and showering, are arduous tasks, some days impossible. She could barely do anything except be driven to doctors’ appointments by her husband, Patrick. These outings would often set her back by days. Greer would spend all day in bed with the curtains drawn due to extreme fatigue and light sensitivity. She continues to struggle with talking on the phone, texting, reading, and socializing in person. The amount of energy required to engage in these seemingly normal activities is frequently beyond her capacity. What breaks her heart the most is how her 12-year-old son must watch her suffer. Both Eamon and her husband have been her biggest supporters.

There is hope in the progress IVIG is giving to Greer and others like her. She could barely stand prior to the medication. After the last few treatments, she has been able to get dressed every day for the last 2 weeks. Her neurological exam has improved. She can sit upright unassisted for 30 minutes, enjoy 15 minutes of functional yoga, sit at the breakfast table with her son, and have small conversations. It is incredible to think that these small victories are things most of us take for granted. Greer’s Mom says, ‘As Greer's mother, I've felt heartbroken and helpless, but for the first time since she became ill, I'm cautiously optimistic that this new drug may help her regain some semblance of normalcy.’ Her sister Amy said, ‘I’ve also been sitting by, feeling helpless but wanting to help. I’ve watched the massive shifts of Greer’s quality of life, and it isn’t until recently has it started to head in the right direction. I admire her tenacity, self-advocacy, and positive attitude, but that alone will not heal her. Anyone else would just give up. Now that this new medication is in the picture, we’re all feeling more optimistic than we have for a long time.’

I know so many people ask how they can help her and her family during this difficult battle. We have offered to do a GoFundMe, but as many may feel similarly, it is very difficult to accept help. Patrick’s response was initially something like, 'I would rather sell everything in our home than do that!' I am relieved and happy that they are now allowing us to do this for them. The cost of IVIG, the myriad of other medical expenses, and Greer’s inability to work have become a huge financial burden. If we can help provide some relief and keep her treatments going, she may have continued improvement toward a “new normal” that she so desperately wants and deserves. We would all be so grateful if you could find it in your budget and your heart to contribute whatever you can.

For additional info on Greer’s symptom profile, and some enlightening articles and resources on Long Covid, please see below.

Greer’s symptoms:

Life altering fatigue

Post exertional malaise (PEM) - fevers, chills, muscle and bone pain after minimal exertion - be it physical, cognitive, emotional, or sensory

Severe brain fog

Lightheadedness/dizziness

Extreme light and noise sensitivity

Headaches

High heart rate with minimal exertion

Difficulty with standing

Supportive articles and references:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/09/1223077307/long-covid-exercise-post-exertional-malaise-mitochondria