I'm a 60-year-old single mom fighting POTs, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI), Lupus, Hashimoto's, Sjogren's, Fibromyalgia, and more. After decades of declining health and massive medical debt, I'm finally seeing and feeling real progress. Embarrassing to actually talk about, but I am almost to the point where I can feel comfortable eating in public again after a few years of uncontrollable diarrhea from EPI. I'm getting my appetite back and actually gaining some weight (something I definitely never thought I would have a problem with in my lifetime). And I am having fewer terrifying tachycardia and blood pressure drop episodes causing me to faint. If it were not for God and my pups, I would feel incredibly alone. Best of all, I have a granddaughter coming in July that I very much want to be healthy and present for, not stuck in survival mode trying to unbury myself out of this debt. I cannot think of anything more important right now than being present in my daughter's new family's life with her husband and little baby girl.

But I'm still buried under $12,000 in medical debt from treatments, supplements, and uncovered care. This debt keeps me stuck in survival mode instead of focusing on healing. Reaching out for financial help is so hard for me. After 20 years in an abusive marriage (it wasn't all bad, but it ended in 2009), my circle of friends doesn’t exist anymore. I never imagined people would help me. I am alone, except for my daughter, who I cannot burden with this (my pups cannot help with this). I want to get strong enough so I can stand on my own two feet again. I want to live again, really live, not hide in my house anymore once this debt is paid.

Bella and Bear, my Australian Shepherd pups, are training to be medical alert dogs. They are already learning to be good at alerting me of dangerous POTS blood pressure drops before I faint. They've become an important lifeline, but caring for them adds to the financial strain.

On January 1, 2025, my world shifted in a way I never expected. After years of battling severe Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)—a condition that sends my heart racing dangerously just from standing—and Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI), where my pancreas doesn’t produce enough enzymes to digest food and absorb nutrients, I had finally found stability. Ivabradine (the generic for Corlanor) regulated my heart rate when nothing else could, even pulling me through a hospitalization during the height of COVID. Creon helped me digest meals again, allowing me to eat without starving myself for 24 hours just to leave the house, and I was slowly gaining back precious weight after so much loss.

Then, changes to Medicare in 2024 meant I lost coverage for both medications. My cardiologist—who once fought hard to get me on Ivabradine when all else failed—simply said, “Oh well, maybe a generic will come soon,” and “See you in a year.” He walked out, leaving me with no plan, no answers, and no one in my corner. I was devastated, scared, and suddenly on my own.

I refused to give up. Throughout 2025, I dove deep into research—holistic remedies, root-cause approaches, and supplements that support my body instead of just masking symptoms. This journey has been long, frustrating, full of trial and error, and yes—expensive. I’ve learned hard truths: the medical system often treats symptoms like a bandage rather than seeking true healing, and that can leave people like me paying out-of-pocket for alternatives that actually help. I’ve made real progress chasing down my autoimmune diseases (I live with 15) and chronic fatigue, feeling more empowered and hopeful than I have in years. This path has been rewarding beyond words.

But it’s also come at a heavy cost. Living on Social Security disability, I’ve accumulated $12,000 in credit card debt from these necessary supplements and efforts to regain my health. The stress of this debt weighs on me every day, making an already overwhelming journey feel crushing at times. It keeps me up at night, adding to the fatigue I’m fighting so hard to overcome.

I’ve seen so many beautiful stories online—people sharing their struggles and receiving help from compassionate everyday folks willing to lend a hand up. I’ve prayed about this for a long time, and I finally feel ready to share mine. I’m not asking for pity; I’m asking for a bit of grace and support so I can continue this healing road without the constant burden of debt hanging over me.

If my story resonates with you—if you’ve faced similar battles, or if you simply believe in helping someone keep fighting—any amount you can share would mean the world. Even $5 or $10 adds up and eases the load. If you can’t donate, sharing this post would help reach more hearts. My Venmo is @Laura-G-S-921

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, for caring, and for any kindness you can extend. God bless you abundantly.

With gratitude and hope,

Laura

UPDATE APRIL 2026

Dear friends, family, and kind supporters,

Thank you again for every prayer, share, and donation. Your generosity has been a light during some very heavy weeks.

The past several months have tested me in ways I never expected. My body has been in a storm — unpredictable gut flares from my EPI and no-gallbladder issues, deep exhaustion that leaves me falling asleep during the day, and a new inflammatory rash on my face that turned out to be a lupus/autoimmune rebound after I had to pause many long-term supplements. Medical debt has continued to grow, and the fear of losing my home has felt crushing at times. Some days I feel completely defeated.

But there are also real, quiet wins that keep me going:

•  My gut is slowly stabilizing. White rice with a couple tablespoons of spinach has been staying in me, and protein shakes— something that felt impossible just weeks ago as my weight fell back under 100 pounds.

•  AbbVie approved my Creon (the EPI medication that I desperately need) through the end of this year, and my first shipment should arrive early next week. My doctor cleared out their sample shelf and gave me everything they had to get me to here.

•  Most joyfully, I was able to attend my daughter’s gender reveal and housewarming this past weekend. The weather was perfect (beautiful sunny skies after days of rain), and we all celebrated when they learned they are having a baby girl. I’m going to be a grandmother in July — a light I hold onto on the hardest days.

Keeping this to myself has been one of my hardest battles. How does a parent burden their child with this when they are starting their own lives; buying their first home, having their first baby?

Bella and Bear (my pups) have been my constant companions through all of this. They are far more than pets — they are my medical alert dogs. They sense when my blood pressure drops from POTS and warn me before I faint. Bear never leaves my side; he sits outside the bathroom door guarding me like the loyal pack leader I am to him. Bella instinctively knows when I need comfort — she places her head on my chest, which helps slow my tachycardia episodes, then happily rolls over for belly rubs. A few weeks ago when they weren’t with me, I had a bad POTS drop, fell, and ended up with a 2-inch gash on my head. They truly help keep me safe and grounded every single day. Keeping them with me is part of staying as healthy and independent as I can while I fight to clear this debt.

I’m actively looking for part-time remote work that matches my limited energy, but the exhaustion and unpredictable symptoms make it incredibly difficult. Your support is helping me chip away at this mountain of medical debt so I can focus on healing instead of constant worry.

If you can share this page again or contribute even a small amount, it would mean the world. I’m not giving up hope — I’m taking baby steps forward, counting my wins, even if they are one formed stool at a time, or not loosing more weight (never in my life did I think I would say those words), one calm herbal tea, or a restful night sleep. I pray I can get strong again, clear this debt, and be the healthy grandmother my granddaughter “Lyla” I pray to meet in July deserves.

With deep gratitude,

Laura (and Bella & Bear, my faithful guardians)