Help My Friend Love Life Again

Hi everyone,

I've decided to start this campaign after breaking down in tears in the park behind my house this morning. My name is Ernie, but I'm not the person worth learning about here.

This is about my best friend and partner Tawny. In the photo, they're the one with the blue hair (can't you see how happy they make me?).

Tawny's had a rough life. Without compromising their privacy too much (they don't know I've made this campaign for them), I'll try to paint a picture of their life so you understand why I'm desperate to help them.

Tawny suffers from post-traumatic stress, depression, debilitating anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. They are prescribed medications for their conditions, but sometimes is not able to have those medications on hand due to complications with Medicaid.

They grew up in rural Iowa in a blue collar family. Their parents were not the most nurturing. Over the years, their parents were more harmful to them than not. Today, they cannot fall back on their parents financially, emotionally, or spiritually. Tawny is entirely on their own.

Tawny is very hardworking, and was able to get themself into a prestigious liberal arts college, where I met them. However, due to the nature of this school, they graduated with way more problems than blessings.

They work long hours for minimum wage, nearly all of which goes towards rent and caring for their cats. Their cats (Chocolate and Cocoa) have been with them since childhood and are close to the end of their lives. This past summer, Chocolate had a tumor on her eyelid removed (along with her eye), but as of a couple weeks ago, we found out that the cancer had already spread to her lymphnodes. Cocoa suffers from arthritis and a sour attitude, but these two are the sweetest cats I know, especially towards Tawny. These cats are the world to Tawny. They have few friends in the town they currently live in, most of which will be moving away this summer. They are limited to travel by money, but also by the very poor shape of their car, which can break down at any moment.

Due to recent struggles of my own, I am literally states away from them. I rarely see them, but I rarely don't think about them. Every day is a battle for Tawny and it hurts me that I can't help them more than lending an ear and some advice. In my eyes, Tawny is one of the most deserving people I know. They work so hard and have gone through so much sh*t, but earn very little.

As a Pisces, Tawny feels everything completely and profoundly. On their brightest days, Tawny is a beacon of love and life. They are smart, funny, reliable, enthusiastic, quirky, intuitive, perky, understanding, sensitive, and to me, perfect. They love  cats and they love to read a lot, ever since they were a little kid. They really want to learn how to play the guitar. Some of their favorite shows include Roseanne, Bob's Burgers, Supernatural, Parks and Rec, and The Office. They love to listen to Kimya Dawson, Fleetwood Mac, Beyoncé, Weezer, and Nicki Minaj. Tawny loves being with their friends and with their cats. They love exploring cemeteries and museums. They are passionate about social justice activism, particularly concerning disability rights, LGBTQIA justice, and class and economic justice.

Like I mentioned, Tawny doesn't know I'm doing this. I'm hoping to surprise them with this one day, but it would only be a surprise if we are able to raise the money.

I'm begging you for any contribution at all. If you can't donate, then please share this. Please help me help somebody I love with all my heart, somebody who is so deserving but continually bears the brunt of what life has to offer. There's no telling how long Tawny will endure these hardships. One of the things I want most in this world is to see them live happily and comfortably. I want them to feel like they want to stay alive.

Thank you for reading all this. I really hope you consider donating to Tawny's cause.