Humans of ME/CFS

I was diagnosed with ME/CFS in 1995 after 3 years of being told I was overworking, over playing or stressed. I was advised to apply for disability by my Doctor and was handed disability on a silver platter by the state of North Carolina. Being one to never say “I can’t” I turned down the disability, found a new job and continued to work off and on for the next 5 years. I suffered a vicious cycle of crashing and rehabbing. I conceded in 2000 and reapplied for disability. This time I was turned down twice before finally hiring a lawyer and winning on the third appeal.

I managed to live on my own for 15 of the 21 years I have been sick constantly walking a “tightrope.”

In July my partner told me they could no longer “live with my disease” and I have been homeless since July.

Even though I have sent every article I can find to my family they still do not understand how devastating this disease can be especially under extreme stress. They have turned their backs on me.

I have run out of the medications that helped ease my symptoms and am living in my car with my precious dog Bella. We spend one night a week in a motel to bathe hoping to stretch our dollars while we pray for a miracle.