Hi everyone!
For those of you taking the class Marina is offering, I am so excited for you! Please leave a comment with “hands-on” or “demo only” so we can properly track tickets. For those of you who are only donating, you can leave me your favorite emoji (or not, that’s also fine ).
Most of you know me and my story of the last 5.5 years. For those who don’t, here’s the gist. I am a local hairstylist who became disabled by long COVID. My disability was mild for the first few years of illness, but I did my best to make accommodations that would help me maintain my career. I love my work and I miss it dearly. As of last April, my disability became too severe to work anymore. Most days I am housebound and some days I am bedridden. And some days I am semi-functional. It’s like the worst game of whack-a-mole; I never know what symptoms I will wake up with and if I’ll be able to run an errand or parent my kids, or if I’ll need my husband to carry me to the bathroom because I can’t walk.
There is currently no cure, nor even standard of care, for long COVID. I have tried numerous medications and procedures over the last five and a half years with varied results. I am on a first-name basis with the pharmacists and ER docs at UVM. It’s not the sort of popularity I was after.
I am hoping to try some more intense treatments, which I cannot access in the States. Both are in Germany. One is a way to filter out my blood from microclots, immunoglobulins, and other big words. The other is a monoclonal antibody infusion. These are expensive and out-of-pocket treatments that require travel, lodging, help with my kids and dogs, and are not covered by insurance.
These funds will go directly to accessing treatments. I desperately want to ride bikes with my kids again, rock climb again, take my dogs for a walk, have a glass of wine with friends, travel, and go back to work!
I appreciate you all so much. Thank you.
