The Giving Rhino

Access with purpose. Giving with heart.

I Am Fighting to Stay Alive

I live with lupus (SLE), kidney failure, and serious related complications, including a large tumor.
I am working toward a kidney transplant so I can continue living. This is how I keep going, with you beside me.

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I love being in nature, but even sunlight can trigger painful lupus flares. I layer up to protect myself.
Rashes appear randomly, especially on my forearms, a daily reminder of how relentless lupus is.
A spreading, painful facial rash. A visible sign of an invisible battle.
Severe lesions cause scarring, hair loss, and debilitating pain.
Flares hit hard, sending me to the ER and ICU. Every treatment keeps me alive.
My kidneys are failing. Doctors fought to save my life. I am deeply grateful.
Life threatening days in the ICU, organs stabilizing while lupus attacks my body.
I fought to come back to life after being in a coma.
Each dialysis session and infusion is a lifeline. A reminder of how fragile life is.
MRIs and urgent surgery guide life-saving treatments.
Preparing for a biopsy led to discovering a tumor. Another urgent challenge.
Regular labs track lupus activity, organ function, and overall health.
Facing surgery with lupus was terrifying. Unlike anything I’ve ever felt.
Organs stabilize, but painful rashes remain.
Needles and tubes bruise my arms. A stark reminder of survival.
I follow strict medical protocols with my doctors’ guidance.
Filtered masks and full hospital gear protect me from deadly infections.
Acupuncture, gua sha, cupping, Traditional Chinese Medicine, ancestral medicine, and nutrition help regulate my nervous system and control flares.
Western medicine combined with complementary therapies keeps me disciplined and proactive in managing lupus.
Recovering from organ failure requires daily discipline, unwavering faith, and resilience. Every step I take fights for my life.

Why I Created This

Asking for help is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
But lupus doesn’t wait. Medical bills don’t pause. And my life is worth fighting for.

SLE has brought more than one battle. Alongside kidney failure, I am also managing other serious health complications, including a large tumor related to my condition.

I didn’t want to disappear behind hospital walls or reduce my story to a number on a fundraising page. I also didn’t want to keep this hidden, carrying shame for what my genetics gave me or fear from others who tried to silence me.

I wanted to create something human, intimate, and honest, where giving feels meaningful and real.

How Your Support Helps

Your support goes directly toward:

  • Lupus care
    Lupus (SLE) careSpecialists, treatments, and ongoing management
  • Kidney treatment
    Kidney treatmentDialysis, monitoring, and related expenses
  • Additional complications
    Additional complicationsCare related to serious medical conditions
  • Transplant preparation
    Transplant preparationTesting, procedures, and recovery support
  • Medications and labs
    Medications and labsPrescriptions, testing, and follow ups

Every contribution helps keep me here.

Ways to Give

Zelle

Venmo

paypal

Direct Contributions

Lower fees. Immediate impact. This support helps me continue critical, life-saving medical treatment.

ZelleApplesayda · (707) 334-1142
Venmo@Applesayda
PayPal@Applesayda

Every single dollar goes directly toward my life-saving medical care. No platforms. No intermediaries. No fundraising fees.

Thank you 🤍
Every donation no matter the size brings hope.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity. 💗

Some days are heavy. Some days are beautiful.
All of it is real.

I never imagined my life would look like this.
And yet I still believe in beauty.
I still believe in deliciousity.
I still believe in community.
And I still believe in tomorrow.

If my story touches you, thank you for seeing me, for holding space, and for helping me continue this fight.

With all my heart,
Sayda 🤍🦏