Hey there, do-gooders, radicals, and the rest of our colorful friends!

Thanks for taking the time to come read this GoFundMe. My name is Jennifer and I work in homeless services in Austin/Travis County. I'm organizing this fundraiser on behalf of my dear friend and colleague, Atma, and his wonderful partner, Tina.

Why Do Tina & Atma Need a GoFundMe?

Last Thursday, Tina was unexpectedly scheduled to undergo a medically necessary and time-sensitive surgery. An ultrasound of her abdomen had shown a 5.6 inch spot on her liver, so they'd ordered more imaging and countless labs. For days, she and Atma lived in fear of the doctor's stated worst case scenario ... liver cancer. Fortunately, the MRI showed a large benign tumor on her liver, but benign or not, it's having a detrimental impact on her body's ability to function in a healthy way, which is why this surgery is medically necessary and time-sensitive.

And? Then What Happened?

Well, health insurance coverage is meaningless in a medical emergency if you haven't already met that high deductible, you've already been paying countless co-pays and other related out-of-pocket expenses leading up to the surgery you couldn't have predicted you would need, and you both work in the non-profit sector and already live paycheck to paycheck.

Why Donate to this GoFundMe?

Tina and Atma are no strangers to healthcare challenges or the daily financial sacrifices many people with health insurance have to make to meet their out of pocket medical expenses. They both work more than they should - because they care about helping people - they share a single vehicle, they make their lunch for work every day, and they aren't the kind of people to blow their limited income on fancy meals or vacations. They're exhausted, y'all. They can't catch a break with all the recent health scares, new diagnoses, and treatments. And they're not even complaining about it ... I am! The healthcare system f'ing sucks in this country!!

Your support here is vital. Whether through a donation, sharing this campaign, or simply sending them some words of encouragement, please help me to help them!!

Tina and Atma are model human beings, and after all the years they've spent helping others, it's their turn to accept a little help themselves. They shouldn't have to wait. Tina shouldn't have to roll the dice on what might happen to her body next. Let's show them they don't have to fight this alone!!

Every dollar raised will go directly to Atma and Tina for payments towards their projected expenses for the surgery, the hospital stay, treatment, and follow-up care. Any additional funds will go towards other essential living costs so they can focus on the burden of healing instead of the burden of finances. Questions can be directed to me, Atma, or Tina at the links below:

Jennifer can be reached via her LinkedIn profile

Atma can be reached via his Facebook profile

Tina can be reached via her Facebook profile

Thank you for reading!