My husband and I, along with our incredible 17-year-old son, Joey, share a life defined by love, laughter, and a constant, demanding fight against complex health challenges. We are sharing our story now because, after years of managing our conditions on disability income, a recent crisis has pushed our resources past the breaking point. The Heart of Our Home: Our Miracle Son, Joey Our son, Joey, is the light of our lives. He is our miracle baby, born prematurely at just 28 weeks. Joey is on the autism spectrum, has pre-existing lung problems, and is the most loving, joyful, and resilient person you could ever meet. Recently, however, our world fractured. Joey suffered his first very violent grand mal seizure. After extensive testing and doctor visits, he has been diagnosed with epilepsy (specifically, Grand Mal and Atonic seizures). This sudden diagnosis has introduced a terrifying new layer of stress, constant vigilance, and, critically, unexpected medical costs. Our Daily Battle: A Mountain of Chronic Illness For years, my husband and I have managed our own significant health burdens, all while providing the best life possible for Joey on a fixed disability income. My Husband: He courageously manages Lupus, which brings frequent fatigue, pain flares, and limitations that make consistent caregiving and employment impossible. Myself: My health journey is a complex, daily battle against an extensive list of conditions, including the debilitating connective tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Degenerative Disc Disease, which severely limit my mobility and cause chronic pain. My other chronic conditions include: System Conditions Cardiovascular/Pulmonary: Chronic Clinical Systolic Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy, Asthma with COPD, Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD), LBBB, Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, Benign Essential Hypertension, Hypervolemia. Gastrointestinal: Gastric Paresis, GERD, MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). Neurological/Motor: Essential Tremor, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Musculoskeletal: Arthritis, Other Low Back Pain, Pes Cavus (Left/Right). Mental Health: Bipolar, OCD, Panic Attacks, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Insomnia. Other Chronic Issues: Hypothyroidism, Hyperlipidemia, Hypertriglyceridemia, Maxillary Sinusitis, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Eczema. When you combine managing a long list of conditions—like the severe mobility issues from EDS and Arthritis, the daily risk of cardiac issues, and the cognitive toll of mental illness—with the sudden, urgent needs of a son with new-onset epilepsy, the simple logistics of daily life become nearly impossible. The Need for a Lifeline Our disability checks, designed to cover basic living expenses, simply cannot stretch to meet the constant, escalating medical and logistical demands of our family. The reality of frequent specialist visits, multiple emergency room trips, and constant medication refills has completely depleted our savings, especially as we head into the high-stress holiday season. We are reaching out to our community for help with the following essentials: ⛽ Gas and Transportation: We have frequent, mandatory, and long drives to specialists (neurology, cardiology, rheumatology) for all three of us. Reliable gas and car maintenance are absolutely essential to ensure we can get to these life-saving appointments. Co-pay for Medication: The cost of co-pays for Joey's new anti-seizure medication, along with the dozens of prescriptions for my husband and myself, creates a monthly hurdle we can no longer clear. Food and Essentials: Basic necessities become difficult to afford when medical bills pile up. Car Maintenance: Ensuring our car is running safely is critical for transporting a child who may have a seizure and two parents with severe mobility issues. Every single contribution helps us keep the lights on, the car running, and ensures that Joey and both of us have the medication we need to fight these battles another day. If you can help, please consider donating. If you are unable to donate, please share our story. Your support—in any form—means the world to our small, resilient family.