New Orleans or Bust
Spende geschützt
I'm never sure where to start with something like this ever so here's the "short version". In late 2012, I noticed some strange things happening around my digestive health and like most "responsible" adult freelancers living in NYC without health insurance, I ignored it. I even kept it a secret from most of my close friends and family. I changed some of my eating habits and suffered in silence because at the time, that decision seemed logical. What else was I going to do? I had to keep a roof over my head and food in my stomach even if it didn't stay there long and doctors visits can cost upwards of $300 bucks and that's before any tests.
I started looking for more stable (read:Health Benefits) employment positions in 2013 and landed a freelance gig at Art+Commerce. Yup the Art + Commerce for those of us that still romanticize the inner workings of Fashion Photography and Production. I was excited and hoped for a potential long term position to open up for me at the end of my contract time in August. It didn't. I started feeling worse in the stomach area and chalked it up to stress and anxiety around not having found the right position yet and being unemployed.
Then I became a candidate for what would have been, or so I thought, my dream job. I went through 5 interviews for the position only to not get the job on a technicality that had nothing to do with me. Feeling sicker and mostly under employed, I became depressed. The worst depression I've ever felt in my entire life. A "don't leave the bed for days, what is food, isolating and debilitating" kind of depression. Which only further compounded my health issue of course. And then a glimmer of hope came when I was approved for Medicaid (praise Obamacare) and connected with the most amazing Primary care physician. She got me into therapy right away and helped me get a diagnosis for my stomach issue within 2 months. Crohns Disease.
Finally, I had a name for my symptoms and now it can be treated and I can get back to my life right? Not exactly. Doctor says "You're going to have to make a lifestyle change if you want to get better". Then my therapist said the same thing to me. "If you want to get better, you have to make a lifestyle change. You're going to have to slow down." Slow and NYC could not be further apart. So I've decided to move to the first city to ever capture my heart. New Orleans.
Having been under employed for the last 6 months however, didn't exactly set me up for this decision financially so I'm asking for your help. I need to move by May 15th, 2014. Yes, I know that's like tomorrow but as the saying goes "closed mouths don't get fed."I was trying to make this happen on my own by selling my things, freelancing and dancing on the J train during rush hour (It's showtime ladies and gentlemen!) but even with all that, its still not quite enough to make the numbers work.
I'm raising $5,000 to cover expenses like transportation, storage facilities and transitional living expenses. This move is probably the hardest thing I've ever attempted but I believe that I can do it with the support of my friends, family and community. So please contribute what you can. Any and all donations will be appreciated with profound gratitude. It also means there is one less pole for me to work on the J train.
Love
Uche
I started looking for more stable (read:Health Benefits) employment positions in 2013 and landed a freelance gig at Art+Commerce. Yup the Art + Commerce for those of us that still romanticize the inner workings of Fashion Photography and Production. I was excited and hoped for a potential long term position to open up for me at the end of my contract time in August. It didn't. I started feeling worse in the stomach area and chalked it up to stress and anxiety around not having found the right position yet and being unemployed.
Then I became a candidate for what would have been, or so I thought, my dream job. I went through 5 interviews for the position only to not get the job on a technicality that had nothing to do with me. Feeling sicker and mostly under employed, I became depressed. The worst depression I've ever felt in my entire life. A "don't leave the bed for days, what is food, isolating and debilitating" kind of depression. Which only further compounded my health issue of course. And then a glimmer of hope came when I was approved for Medicaid (praise Obamacare) and connected with the most amazing Primary care physician. She got me into therapy right away and helped me get a diagnosis for my stomach issue within 2 months. Crohns Disease.
Finally, I had a name for my symptoms and now it can be treated and I can get back to my life right? Not exactly. Doctor says "You're going to have to make a lifestyle change if you want to get better". Then my therapist said the same thing to me. "If you want to get better, you have to make a lifestyle change. You're going to have to slow down." Slow and NYC could not be further apart. So I've decided to move to the first city to ever capture my heart. New Orleans.
Having been under employed for the last 6 months however, didn't exactly set me up for this decision financially so I'm asking for your help. I need to move by May 15th, 2014. Yes, I know that's like tomorrow but as the saying goes "closed mouths don't get fed."I was trying to make this happen on my own by selling my things, freelancing and dancing on the J train during rush hour (It's showtime ladies and gentlemen!) but even with all that, its still not quite enough to make the numbers work.
I'm raising $5,000 to cover expenses like transportation, storage facilities and transitional living expenses. This move is probably the hardest thing I've ever attempted but I believe that I can do it with the support of my friends, family and community. So please contribute what you can. Any and all donations will be appreciated with profound gratitude. It also means there is one less pole for me to work on the J train.
Love
Uche
Organisator
Uche Wogwugwu
Organisator
Brooklyn, NY
