Help Me Reclaim My Life—From Bed-Bound to Traveling, Dancing, and Helping Others!

Now, Long-COVID keeps me confined to bed 23 hours a day, only getting up to eat. I only leave the house every few weeks, and only for medical appointments. This drastic change has forced me to step away from all the personal and professional activities I once thrived on. I miss being active, social, and engaged in my community. I hope to reclaim some of that independence – enabling me to rejoin the world I love and continue making a positive impact as both a professional and a friend.

My Long-COVID symptoms have left me unable to do the everyday tasks I once took for granted. Most days, I can’t even sit up long enough to work on my computer, and I can no longer walk around my own home. I can’t even hold a book. Simple activities (like preparing meals or performing basic chores) are out of reach, and I rely on others to help me with these daily necessities. My chronic fatigue is so debilitating that I’m unable to see friends. Leaving my home requires several days or even weeks of recovery. As someone who was once very active, losing this much independence has been life-altering, but I’m so thankful for the love and support of my family and friends (and Kovu), who all give so much to help me cope and keep my spirits up.

I’m incredibly grateful for any support since the costs associated with my care are staggering. A wheelchair alone costs roughly $12,000, and insurance covers only part of the cost. An accessible vehicle, essential for me to get around, costs around $60,000. I also need funds for care services, like help with meals and laundry, as well as ongoing out-of-pocket expenses such as co-pays, medications, and experimental therapies. These off-label treatments can easily total over $100,000. Recently, I installed ramps in my home, which cost $1,000, and each pill of an experimental medication is $1, adding up quickly since I take nine of those pills a day. I even tried a new therapy that cost $250 every day, but sadly, it failed to help. All of these expenses combine to make daily life more and more difficult.

With your support, I’m hopeful that my life can drastically improve. With my current goal of $10,000, I hope to cover some of the cost of a custom wheelchair, and if we can raise even more funds, I hope to be able to invest in an accessible vehicle and pursue Apheresis which isn’t covered by insurance (Apheresis is a therapy that filters out remnants of the virus). Perhaps I can even regain my independence or at least enough to leave the house to see my friends and family. I dream of traveling, hiking, and dancing again, returning to the vibrant life I once had. I’m eager to finish my dissertation, return to my patients and students, work on building accessible mental health counseling programs for universities worldwide, and help offer mental health care services for those in marginalized communities. By helping me reclaim my mobility, you will enable me to give back meaningfully, making a lasting difference for people in need of mental health support.

If you’re able to contribute, please know that every donation makes a real impact – no matter the size. By donating to Help Hope Live in my honor and sharing my story, you can help me afford the treatments, equipment, and services I desperately need. If you’d like to go a step further and organize a fundraising event, please contact me at [email protected], and I’ll connect you with the amazing people around me who are ready to help plan and support these efforts. Thank you for reading my story and for any assistance you can offer. I hope that we can take meaningful steps toward restoring my health, mobility, and independence.

TL;DR: I’m a 31-year-old living with severe Long-COVID, stuck in bed most of the time and unable to perform daily tasks on my own. With a wheelchair, home modifications, and access to off-label treatments not covered by insurance, I hope to regain my independence and return to the active life I love: traveling, dancing, seeing friends, and continuing my work as a mental health therapist. Your support will help cover medical expenses, specialized equipment, and crucial care services that can bring me one step closer to reclaiming my future. Any contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful difference.