My name is Jasmine Cristina Lacy, and at 38, I’ve always been the pillar of strength for my household here on N Washington St. But two weeks ago, what I thought was severe indigestion turned into an emergency ruptured appendictis. I was rushed into life-saving surgery and ended up spending six days in the high-dependency unit fighting a post-op internal infection.

While I am incredibly grateful to be alive, the financial aftermath is a terrifying mountain to climb. Even with insurance, my personal out-of-pocket medical deductibles have hit $6,200. Because my physical recovery requires strict bed rest for the next five weeks, my hourly pay has completely stopped. Rent, food, and basic winter utilities don't wait for you to heal. I am swallowing every ounce of my pride to ask for financial relief. Clearing a portion of this medical stress will allow me to focus entirely on physical healing so I can return to work. Thank you for your kindness and prayers.