Earlier this year, my life took a dramatic turn when I was laid off in January and soon after, bit by a tick in March. Initially, I didn't think much of it, but within a week, I became seriously ill. The next 2 months were filled with uncertainty and weekly reoccurring bouts of illness. I sought medical attention at urgent cares and found a reasonably priced concierge primary care provider. None of them knew how to handle tick borne infectious diseases and it wasn’t until I started seeing a Lyme literate doctor in June that I was put on a proper treatment plan. It was $600 to get started and after spending $1,000 for comprehensive tick borne disease blood tests, I was diagnosed with several illnesses, including Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis. The medical bills continued piling up.
I finally secured a job in July. However, the salary was low, and health insurance was beyond reach, leaving me barely able to cover daily expenses. The stress from the job led to a medical episode, forcing me to quit. It's been a whirlwind of challenges all year.
Now, I'm facing the possibility of moving to Oklahoma to live with my mom. My family struggles financially, which makes this situation even tougher. My mom is the only person with a spare room but moving to Oklahoma will be a major adjustment and my chances of getting back to work in my field are very slim.
Despite applying for Medicaid multiple times, I've been denied repeatedly, and the MRIs I need for my worsening neurological symptoms are costly. I’ve been accepted into the CU CSF Leak Research Program here in Denver, and it's crucial for me to stay to continue this care. The funds I'm hoping to raise will help me manage day-to-day expenses and begin to pay off this mounting medical debt. It's been a nightmarish journey, and my sole focus is finding stability and health amidst this uncertainty.
Anything helps.
I will be sharing more of my story on social media over the coming weeks. I am more than happy to connect directly to answer any questions about my experience contracting Lyme disease and co-infections somewhere within the greater Denver metro area.
Thank you for your support and generosity 💜
