Help Erin realize her dream

At age 29 I was diagnosed with the very same illness that takes the lives of a million people annually. A hereditary,incurable,potentially fatal

disease. I was left bewildered,lost and felt very much alone. It's not that I felt that God had somehow moved and left no forwarding address. No, he was still there as from the beginning never left shining brightly as the beacon he has always been. Again, I was the one that had become lost. At this point in my life there were life decisions to be made and after much soul searching and due to the fact this illness is hereditary I made the difficult choice to not have

children.

Over the next 27 years of my career as in life there were good times and others not so much. The pain and weakness at times intolerable yet not enough to keep me from being the nurse I was blessed to be. My love for my patients kept me going.

I never knew whether I could trust the happy feelings and how long they would be around. Sometimes the days turned into months and at one point lasted a year. That was heaven and then I would stumble and fall and find myself back at square one. Through many of those rough times I wanted to give up and 3 of those times I came close to losing the battle.

Many medications,doctors,invisible and not so invisible scars and 8 hospitalizations later which included 15 ECT treatments. Yes, shock therapy.

I had hit the deepest depth of despair and the doctor knew that the only way to bring me back and to literally save my life was with ECT. One major side effect memory loss yet if I had to do it all over again I would in a heartbeat.

It was during my last hospitalizations and due to the severity of my symptoms and not wanting a relapse the doctor felt it was time for my overall health and well being to take a rest and let someone take care of me for a change.Though psychologically hard to assimilate I knew deep in

my heart he was right.

In 2004 I was placed on SSD and it has been since then I have substituted my love of caregiving for people to that of sheltering,feeding,giving medical attention and as much love as my heart could give to homeless cats.

In 2008 I developed Diabetes Type 2 caused by a medication prescribed for my bipolar disease.

In 2014 I developed an eating disorder and for the last 2 1/2 years I have not had adequate nutrition in order for my mind and body to have the strength it needs to fight the recurring symptoms of my illness.

I was referred to a physician in Seattle who I have had a consult with.He has had tremendous

success in treating and helping people like me literally obtain a new lease on life where hope had been lost.

I am fortunate to have found the people at Plumfund who help people like me who are in need but don't have the finances or resources to

make their dreams come true.

My dream is to afford the much needed treatment this physician is proposing and going back to school and once again make a difference in people's lives.

The inspiration for giving me the strength I needed to bear my soul are two of my beloved

guardian angels.My father,my friend,my hero and spiritual advisor Deacon Bill Osborn

St. Joseph's Catholic Church Wenatchee, Wa

And my mother,my friend,my confidant Marylyle

Osborn.

So, you are asking yourself as you near the end of my campaign "And why should I help you, Erin

over all of the other people asking for help?"

And my answer. Well, #1) what part of one million people die annually from this illness don't you understand?#2) I have lost 12 long years of being separated from the profession I love and I am serious about wanting to start giving once again to those in need. It is those times of being able to give and care for others that makes life worth living. #3)Maybe,just maybe if I can't afford the treatment that the doctor is recommending in order for me to get on the right track of getting healthy,mind,body and soul I won't just come close to losing the battle again but,will succumb.

Thank you to all that have taken the time to read my story and have been able to donate and to my Facebook friends that have not unfriended me after bearing my soul.