Help Shawn and her Family’s Battle for Health and Stability

Hey everyone.. I sincerely hope each of you is doing well..

I am coming to you today because we have been struggling for some time now as I continue to battle the three diseases that are simultaneously affecting my health and our lives: My multiple sclerosis (MS), Cerebral Microangiopathy (CM), and Post Infectious Reactive Poly Arthritic Syndrome (PAS).

The great news is I am currently at home with Oliver and Felipe instead of the hospital, I have most of my medications, and I have begun a treatment called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, which I receive once a week for 10 weeks. Most importantly, I have family and a husband and son who love me, care for me, and keep me laughing.

The challenges are that I am supposed to be receiving treatment twice a week, not once, in order for it to be effective and work right. I do not have three of my medicines, and Felipe has lost another job due to my most recent hospitalization, another means of support, again because of me.

Our focus has been on getting better, getting to treatment, and taking the necessary meds, but that singular focus has come at a heavy price. My family has been helping with all of this, and now things are becoming more than just challenging, and they are not able to help more than they already are. Willing to, but unable. All they can do is continue getting me to my procedure each week, continue to help get most of my meds, and I love and respect them for everything and am beyond grateful.

As all of this has been happening, recently I have had to choose between the things needed most in each moment, prioritizing each time they help, what is most important, like treatment, food, meds, and pushing everything else off as much as I could. But now, our bills have gotten too far behind and we are in danger of either losing our place, getting the power turned off, or losing water and gas. We can’t have any of that happen. We are in one of the cheapest safe places we can be in. Without power, we have no fan during one of the hottest summers ever recorded. We haven’t seen a day below 98 in a long time, with crushing humidity that makes it feel even hotter. And the same issue without water, which we use cold showers to cool down, and the drinking water we need.

I know we have had to ask before, but we desperately need to get things caught up, just the basic necessities, before we lose it all. We have help with some food. Please understand part of the reason we are in such trouble is my not wanting to come ask again. I couldn’t bring myself to ask during the holidays or work up the courage after. I feel tremendous guilt that I have to rely on family and friends and that a man as good as Felipe, who has worked his whole life, keeps losing opportunities for work because of my health.

Please, anything will help, no matter how small. It will still be huge to us. We don’t need an exorbitant amount, just enough to keep from losing what’s needed most. The stress from worrying about this is reducing the effectiveness of treatment and I’ve started feeling sicker, and I know it’s just the worry getting my pressure up and other things it affects. But if any of you are able to help, it would mean that I can continue my treatment and not end up back in the hospital. I’ll be better and Felipe will then be able to go back to work again.

I can provide receipts to anyone who asks for them. Please help in any way you can, at least in sharing with everyone, or giving whatever you might be able to.

If I can receive $400 in donations, combined with the little Felipe is earning from little side jobs, it will be enough to cover house water and drinkable water, gas for cooking, electric, and the remainder of rent. I have put all of these off so much that now there is no choice. But if I can receive this much from your kindness, it will be enough.

Thank you so much for reading this and your consideration and kindness. I really need your help, my friends, more than I ever have. Please.

Thank you. I love and appreciate you all.

Shawn