Hi, I’m Miki, a good friend of Ronan’s, and I’m fundraising on their behalf. A lot of you already know Ronan to be a vibrant and generous part of Chicago’s art, LGBTQ, and activist community, but not the extent of their chronic illness. Ronan was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2024, but in the past year after difficulties with long COVID, the fibromyalgia symptoms have gotten urgently worse. These symptoms include severe pain episodes that force them to be bedridden and unable to sit or stand without pain, the inability to use the bathroom without assistance, nonepileptic seizures that cause unconsciousness and hallucination, the inability to eat or sleep or focus, migraines, uncontrolled muscular tension, and severe depression. This has ultimately created a dire need for either a long-term caretaker to survive or ideally, a treatment plan that would allow Ronan to not just survive but live independently again. In the past year, Ronan has tried a range of treatment plans including opioids, medical cannabis, anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds, muscle relaxants, prescription strength NSAIDS and Tylenol, antiseizure meds, physical therapy, TENS unit therapy, acupuncture, cupping, gua sha and chiropractic adjustments. None of these solutions have made substantial differences, so Ronan started looking into alternative treatments that aren’t covered by insurance, and began weekly ketamine infusion therapy at the start of July. This is the first treatment plan that has had hopeful results, but continuing the plan is financially too steep to consider without help. It also hasn’t been a perfect solution in addressing every fibromyalgia symptom, so Ronan would need to explore other options in addition to the ketamine. This fundraiser would allow Ronan to both continue the ketamine therapy, as well as try other options many fibromyalgia patients successfully use, such as Botox pain treatment, spinal steroids to target Ronan’s back pains, and inpatient programs for chronic pain. Finally, this money would also go towards about 3 months worth of rent, groceries, transportation to treatment centers, and possibly finding a short-term caretaker, so that Ronan can focus fully on being treated. Because fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, our goals are not to cure it, but to find a viable pain and fatigue management solution that helps Ronan get back to an independent, joyful and fulfilling life. Any amount means the world to us!! Thank you for taking the time to read this campaign. EDIT: thank you SO so much for the outpouring of generosity and love and help you've all given so far. The first week Ronan and I both spent in (happy) tears. I'm so beyond thankful. A text post can only explain so much how terrifying trying to answer the question of "how will my best friend survive in the world" and failing to answer it. You have all given us ways to answer that. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Ronan is happily continuing the ketamine infusion this month!!!!
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