My name is Nikki Holland and I live in rural TN and have three wonderful kids.  I am a Physical Therapist and was working full time until Feb of last year 2021.  First let me share my story and the background to why I am fundraising for your help…

After my second Moderna COVID vaccine on Feb 12, 2021 I developed nausea and vomiting 36 hours after and in the next few days I started having increased shortness of breath.  By day five post vaccine I was admitted to the hospital with respiratory failure and intubated exactly one week post vaccine.  This was the first of my medical rollercoaster of events that started following my vaccine.  During Feb-June of 2021 I was in 5 different hospitals in two different states, life flighted 4 different times and placed on the ventilator 5 different times.  I spent close to 100 days in the hospital during this time period and one month in an acute rehab hospital to get strong enough to go home.  I developed blood clots, pneumonia, multisystem inflammatory response syndrome, laryngospasms, mod/ severe restrictive lung disease, gastroparesis, urinary retention and neurogenic bladder, weakness, spasms, pain, POTS, neurologic impairments with motor coordination and Ataxia. I had to have a tracheostomy to be able to breathe and maintain an open airway during laryngospasms which still occur periodically.  I had a feeding tube placed due to food intolerance and nausea and vomiting. I currently have a G-tube for nutritional needs.  I had a suprapubic catheter implanted in my lower abdomen to be able to drain the bladder as I lost the ability to sense when full and void.  I also had a bladder stimulator implanted that stimulates sacral nerves going to the bladder in hopes of regaining normal urinary function, which is still a work in progress.

Since then I have been in and out of hospitals. I am currently stable and have recently (2023) received a new neurological diagnosis explaining the continued weakness and lack of mobility. I have been diagnosed with a rare neurological disease called Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP). I have just recently start a new treatment of IVIG infusions in hopes this will stall further progression and prevention of decline.

Up until this point I have tried multiple drugs, treatments, and even alternative treatments that I could afford, however even with improvements at times, I have been unable to maintain gains and progress with further healing.  It has been a constant cycle of one step forward and two steps back.  I went from working full time as a Physical Therapist to now being unable to work since Feb 2021.  I went from working out, running the random 5k, staying active with my kids and attending their multitude of school activities and sporting events, to now having to mainly rely on a wheelchair for mobility needs. I am in the process of trying to get stronger within my limitations and find adaptations to deal with this new lifestyle.

The problem is after 2+ years medical expenses have become a daunting financial challenge for me while managing regular bills and normal living expenses of myself and 3 kids. I am not one who likes to do this but I am at a loss. I need help and to be specific I need financial help.  This is not something I do lightly and ask. I am in the process of trying to pay back medical bills that have accrued and gone to collections as well as continued medical treatments and supplies that are not covered by insurance. The funds raised through this fundraising platform will go to help with those medical expenses.

Thank you for taking the time to read and hear my story!