Support Amber's Medical Journey

To anyone who knows Amber, knows what a light they are wherever they are. Ashley wanted to organize this GoFundMe for the purpose of showing up for them as they show up for all of us as they navigate the hell that medical care can be here.

Amber is an amazing human and friend and community member. They are a fierce listener, hilarious, kind, thoughtful, and have the sickest mustache in the PNW. Whether you’ve had the privilege of knowing them a short while or a long time we all have a feel sense for what having Amber in all of our lives means and what a treasure it is.

They wear many hats in their community, including being on the board of the Lavender League, a soccer league for Queer and Trans folks in Portland. You can see an article about them and the league here. Please support the league too as you can!

Some of you may know all of Amber’s medical journey, some a bit of it, but their ferocity to care for themselves and the strength in their continued hope towards recovery is an absolute marvel. In the past 5 years, they have endured countless procedures, a major surgery, blood tests, you name it. They have been diagnosed with SIBO, SIFO, POTS, MCAS, mold disease, endometriosis, and PCOS. They have done absolutely everything they possibly could be doing to feel better, and still being debilitated by their illnesses. Last month, they got diagnosed with Lyme disease and Trench Fever (Bartonella), which are the root cause of all of their ailments, on top of the 6 active fungal strains that have colonized their body. They are now under serious treatment to cure this long term Lyme Disease. This, in addition to a concussion this past November, has required 100+ doctors appointments, medications, IV bags, and PT. A treatment that has been unattainable for them due to cost has been vision therapy, which will help them heal from previous concussions and not get motion sick/dizzy from driving and other everyday tasks. That treatment alone is $2,000 and not covered by insurance (lol what even is these days). Pushing this hard for their health takes a toll on their wellbeing, including the stress of paying for all the care they need and deserve. Of all 5 years of searching for answers, this has been the most expensive year yet (including the year of endo/hysterectomy surgery).

Any and all funds will go directly to paying down their current medical debit, as well as providing a cushion for future and current medical costs associated with their chronic illnesses. This year alone, (this year isn’t even halfway over), they have spent 9% of their income on medical care alone. Even with a full time job, they cannot afford their medical bills. We’ve adjusted the fundraising goal to account for the percentage GoFundMe takes for hosting the fundraiser.

Our intention is to ease their journey and let them focus on what matters: their wellbeing and seeking the care they need.

So whether you can give a little or a lot, or even share this with your community, we deeply appreciate you! We want to show them a fraction of the love they put out to the world back to them!

Love to all of y’all.

Thank you.