My name is Artoso, a creative artist and former foster youth navigating the severe lifelong impacts of a childhood brain injury. In late 2023, a major ear surgery unexpectedly backfired, profoundly retriggering my past trauma and forcing me into a dark mental health crisis that ultimately cost me my job, my health insurance, and all my savings. Despite the setback, your early support kept my head above water while I awaited a long-term SSDI disability decision. This stability allowed me to step into intensive therapy, focus on my creative healing through my upcoming EP album and audiobook, and successfully transition into a powerful six-month internship co-designing camp programs to connect inner-city and native youth back to the land.

The ultimate catalyst for my endurance has always been my grandmother, Bounlop, back home in Laos. As her oldest grandson, born in the U.S. after my mother was separated from her during the war in the 1980s, reuniting with her and stepping up to care for her represents a massive generational victory. My deep personal pull to reconnect with my roots in Laos perfectly mirrors my professional mission to guide at-risk youth back to their heritage. This campaign is a push to secure my basic living and medical expenses, complete my healing art projects, and fund my upcoming trip to Laos so I can finally meet, care for, and spend these vital first moments with my grandmother.