Austin's Cancer Support Fund
Donation protected
Hi there, my name is Austin. I’m a queer, trans masculine person of color currently living in Washington, DC. Throughout my life so far, I’ve risen to and conquered whatever challenge was placed in front of me and I’ve prided myself on how much I’ve been able to accomplish with my own efforts. When I’m asked what my biggest strengths are in interviews, my first answer is always my tenacity.
To get right to it, I was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer in mid-June and began treatment (external radiation + chemotherapy) in July. This is absolutely a serious diagnosis, but I have read a number of accounts of folks recovering and being cured from my same stage, so my hope is high and my drive to overcome and succeed is stronger than ever. I know I can beat this and I’m putting all my strength behind myself to fight, but this fight is one I’ll need the help and support from my family, friends, and community to win.
Due to the impact of the pandemic on businesses everywhere, my pay was cut several months ago and although I’m currently on leave from work, it’s an unpaid leave and this has left me without an income. I am waiting to hear back on my short term disability benefit that would be a small help with my expenses, but this benefit would just be a percentage of my normal (already cut) pay, so most of it will end up covering my insurance and taxes.
This fund is intended to help me cover my rent, groceries, prescriptions, medical bills, and debt acquired since my diagnosis in June. Thankfully, my symptoms have been improving from treatment, but there have been a number of times where they’ve been unmanageable. At the time of writing this, I’ve had to visit the ER around 5 times and was at one point admitted to the hospital for a period of 4 days prior to my treatments starting.
I know times are tough for everyone right now, so I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for any support you can contribute. I also ask that you please help by sharing this fundraiser widely to help me reach my goal.
If you want to stay in the loop with updates on the fundraiser, more ways to help, and on my journey, consider signing up for our newsletter where my partner and caretaker, E, will be sharing all of this and more (a cat photo here and there is also highly likely!). We promise we won’t email you too often, but thought this would be a fun way to keep updates flowing.
Sign up for the newsletter here: https://forms.gle/pUnoCySGTufetdcEA
-Austin
To get right to it, I was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer in mid-June and began treatment (external radiation + chemotherapy) in July. This is absolutely a serious diagnosis, but I have read a number of accounts of folks recovering and being cured from my same stage, so my hope is high and my drive to overcome and succeed is stronger than ever. I know I can beat this and I’m putting all my strength behind myself to fight, but this fight is one I’ll need the help and support from my family, friends, and community to win.
Due to the impact of the pandemic on businesses everywhere, my pay was cut several months ago and although I’m currently on leave from work, it’s an unpaid leave and this has left me without an income. I am waiting to hear back on my short term disability benefit that would be a small help with my expenses, but this benefit would just be a percentage of my normal (already cut) pay, so most of it will end up covering my insurance and taxes.
This fund is intended to help me cover my rent, groceries, prescriptions, medical bills, and debt acquired since my diagnosis in June. Thankfully, my symptoms have been improving from treatment, but there have been a number of times where they’ve been unmanageable. At the time of writing this, I’ve had to visit the ER around 5 times and was at one point admitted to the hospital for a period of 4 days prior to my treatments starting.
I know times are tough for everyone right now, so I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for any support you can contribute. I also ask that you please help by sharing this fundraiser widely to help me reach my goal.
If you want to stay in the loop with updates on the fundraiser, more ways to help, and on my journey, consider signing up for our newsletter where my partner and caretaker, E, will be sharing all of this and more (a cat photo here and there is also highly likely!). We promise we won’t email you too often, but thought this would be a fun way to keep updates flowing.
Sign up for the newsletter here: https://forms.gle/pUnoCySGTufetdcEA
-Austin
Organizer and beneficiary
E Feinman
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC
Bradin Mercado
Beneficiary
