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Build Janine and Wolfie A Tiny Home

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Hello, thank you for visiting and taking the time to read my story. This Go Fund Me fundraiser is to help me build a tiny home for me and my son Wolfie. In June of 2016 I was hit by a commercial moving truck and suffered a traumatic brain injury. I haven’t been able to work, or do much of anything for more than 2 hours since, and my life has become a long march of doctor’s appointments and legal battles. None of which are set to resolve any time soon. Unfortunately there are very few medical tests that can prove a brain injury. My doctors have given up, and they’re the third group I’ve been through. It’s possible that I have undiagnosed CTE, a degenerative brain disease caused by multiple head injuries. It took me days and many sessions to compose this story. I reached out to the foremost group researching CTE in Boston. They said it will be another 5 years before the test groups are opened up to women and that I should add my name to the list of brain donors to stay on their radar. Currently CTE can only be diagnosed post mortem. At this point I’m out of money and out of hope for recovery. I have to accept that this permanent concussion is my new normal and work with what I have left. Since my accident arts and crafts are the only thing I can do that doesn’t make my head hurt and descend into migraines, dizziness and nausea. I learned how to do simple metal jewelry making with an assortment of hammers, pliers and iron stamps. I opened an Etsy shop called JOYSubversive and in many ways it is a product of my healing journey. My creative process is utter chaos. I can't finish a task in one sitting to save my life. I usually have about six projects going at any one time. The hardest part is editing all the photos, screens kill my eyes now. I have good days and bad days. But it’s one of the things that keeps me going. Then in August of last year my father committed suicide. The shock and trauma had the same effect of a secondary head injury and any healing I achieved up till then was wiped out in an instant, resetting my recovery back to zero. My world fell apart. I put my Etsy shop on standby mode. I spent a few months in shock and grief. Only now in the past few weeks have I been able to get back to making jewelry and have enough presence of mind to realize just how badly I need help. My father taught me that there is no obstacle that can’t be overcome. Look around, see what you have, see what you need, and figure out where to go for help. Using this wisdom I had been independent and successful since age 19. Before my accident I was a scientist. But now the rules have changed and I can no longer make it alone. I've lost nearly everything but my Jeep and my son. I’m reaching out to all of you to help me gain some security and independence back. I hope to raise $12,000 to build me and my son a tiny house. That way I don’t have to constantly worry about how I’m going to pay rent, just where to park. The tiny house will also serve as a mobile workshop and store front. I also hope to start offering art therapy classes, through the trauma institute where I'm receiving treatment, for other folks who also have brain injuries, PTSD, and Grief. I soothe myself every single day with art, instead of pills, alcohol or other people. I'd like to share the techniques I've learned and worked out with folks who are also in rough times in their life. A mobile workskshop would also allow me to be a vendor at the occasional street fair or holiday market. All I have to do is open my shop window. Right now the total set-up, layout and tear-down is way too much for me. I tried it once last spring. It took me 3 days to recover. How the $12,000 will be spent: ~$3000 on a sturdy, well-made 8'x14' utility trailer, the optimal size for my Jeep to tow and the most important component of a tiny house. ~$1000 on appliances; economy refrigerator, small stovetop and oven, etc. ~$1200 on composting toilet, plumbing and fixtures. ~$4800 in building materials. Habitat for Humanity Restores will be sourced as much as possible. ~$2000 on permits, initial site rental fees and keeping my volunteers well supplied in food and drink. I believe that this tiny house and mobile store front will provide me and my son with security and stability. Though we will be mobile, we will be staying in the vicinity of the town where my son is enrolled in school. The massive influx of tourists in the summer will provide plenty of customers for my jewelry and art shop. I hope to win disability by this time next year but nothing is certain. This is the best way for me to use what I have left. Thank you so much for your time and support and kindness. It makes all the difference in me and my son’s life. Donations of $100 or more will receive a gift certificate for 2 pieces of jewelry from my shop. It will come in handy when you get stumped on a birthday present, I promise. Donations of $500 or more will have their name added to a "made possible by" plaque displayed in the store front and receive a gift certificate for any 4 items from my shop. To see my work visit www.JOYSubversive.etsy.com Thank and bless you, Janine Schassberger
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Donations 

  • Sylvan Zimmerman
    • $100 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Janine Luana
Organizer
York, ME

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