Hello friends and family, and hello strangers,

My name is Jasmin, and I’m reaching out in one of the most vulnerable moments of my life.

In 2023, my life took a devastating turn. Multiple severe and confusing symptoms began to debilitate my body. Within weeks, they escalated—disrupting my nervous system, mobility, digestion, sleep, and now even my ability to perform basic self-care. As my condition worsened, continuing to work became not just challenging, but physically impossible. Once a vibrant and independent professional, I’ve found myself increasingly isolated and overwhelmed by these disorders, which now affect nearly every aspect of my daily life.

These aggressive and rare neurological conditions have been with me since childhood, though they went undiagnosed and untreated for most of my life. Even as I faced significant physical challenges, chronic pain, sensory sensitivities, and mental distress, I pushed forward—often without the language or support to fully understand what I was experiencing. Over time, the unmanaged illness spread its grip across multiple systems in my body. Despite the toll, I worked tirelessly to be kind to my loved ones and to find answers.

I am proud of all that I have accomplished. I graduated from both Salem City High School and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania with high honors, then moved from New Jersey to Virginia to build a meaningful life and career. I worked as an independent contractor in American Sign Language and English interpreting. I was drawn to the field the moment I learned about the significance of communication access for the Deaf community. Advocacy has always been my passion, and I aspire to create instructional materials to increase awareness and support for the disability community as well as Queer youth and the Queer community at large.

Despite my determination, the search continues for qualified specialists who can properly diagnose and treat my rare and complicated conditions. The process has been long, exhausting, and financially draining. I hoped to maintain both my career and my health, but several months ago I was forced to step away from work and significantly reduce my activity level. I’m currently awaiting disability benefits, but the approval process is notoriously slow. I’m doing everything I can in the meantime to hold on. Right now, while I am unable to work and continue seeking answers and care, I urgently need help affording rent, basic living expenses like groceries, utilities, hygiene products, medications, and transportation.

My goal is to raise $6,000 to cover essentials for the next three months while I await a disability determination and continue medical outreach.

Asking for help is never easy. I’ve always been the kind of person who pushes through and figures things out, but this situation is simply beyond what I and my support system can manage alone. If you’re able to contribute any amount—$5, $50, or even if you're able to leave words of support and share—it would make a massive difference during this overwhelming time. Thank you for reading, sharing, or giving—whatever you’re able to do.

With sincere gratitude,

Jasmin