Hi, my name is Noelle. Since I was 26, my health has rapidly deteriorated far beyond what could ever be construed as “normal” or even “excessive” for my age. The degeneration of my spine continues to worsen even after my first surgery at 29 years old. I am staring my next surgery in the face, and it will only snowball from here. I live with pain and numbness daily. There are days where the pain is so bad I can’t get off the floor. My fatigue and exhaustion from the pain (and some other mysterious disease that we have yet to diagnose) so severe that it takes me hours to get out of bed and can’t manage to even shower without using all my energy and needing to nap (even though I get at least 10 hrs sleep a night). I can barely take a walk around the grocery store, let alone participate in a fun physical activity that I used to love, like hiking, riding my mountain bike, and working out at the gym.  

I have consistently tried to do my best to continue to live my life but I can honestly say that it would be impossible without kratom. Since I have had the option of using kratom, I have finally been able to manage my debilitating symptoms. I can go out and actually do things. It gives me energy so I can feel normal. I can take my cat to the vet, I can go out shopping with my husband, I am not stuck lying on the floor or in bed when I’m in pain or too exhausted to move wondering why my life has to be this way. 

Please don’t take away the one thing that has given me my life back: the one thing that helps me forget how damaged my body is at such a young age. It does more for me than just give me an energy boost and manage my pain. It gives me hope. And I know I’m not alone. There are many people like me. Don’t take our hope away, our ability to live our lives. We deserve quality of life as much as anyone.