New year, new life for an Autistic Trans Texan.

Hi, I'm Iskra and I'm trying to get a fresh start with a lot of big changes in life.

I've been stuck in a horrible place of broken mental and physical health struggles for years now, with it culminating in 2023 the worst year I've had along with trying to still be a caretaker and partner to my ex through all of her own struggles as well. We got through it, in better shape than we started it but we've now separated so she may go on her own new paths and try to find new independence of her own, while I work on my own new paths of which there are many challenges for me.

Part of my work on myself around my own struggles this year aside from longstanding injuries and long covid impacts are how I struggle with my autism, and having lost all my coping mechanisms and routines during the pandemic especially. So while I'm working on unmasking my autism and getting my head in a better place to be more functional for myself and others I also have taken the long delayed decision to live authentically as me and that means accepting myself as a woman and living as one, without hiding it from anyone anymore.

I had a major burnout pre-pandemic of my tech career due to my increased mental and physical health challenges. I have limited functionality to work these days with much of the same struggles, but making progress and working more small contract hours doing labor work as I can, which is at least all improving and I'm able to do more and more.

Unfortunately I have a lot of accrued debt from the years of making sure we had our basics covered through a major debilitating accident we had many years back and continued other health impacts over the years, and also face looming costs while uninsured to get medical care I severely need for all my health issues including finding a good therapist, starting HRT and other gender affirming care as well as trying to make space for me to comfortably live on my own for the first time in 11 years, building out a wardrobe and other assets that help with my gender affirmation and covering some much needed things like new tires and work on my vehicle to keep it happy since it just hit 200k miles and other such things that I've put off for too long while trying to just keep us alive.

Really, anything helps, particularly right now as I'm trying to get all my things together and have a fresh start, I'll be selling some stuff off and trying to work more hours as I can to pay down my debts and build credit back up so that I can start being more prepared to move to a friendlier state or country once I have tied up a lot of lose ends here in Texas, which becomes more hostile to me all the time. But any extra funds right now help keep a lot of stress, anxiety and worry down and make sure I can just focus on being functional as possible while I start a lot of things over in life and try to figure out what really is next for me and make sure my day to day needs are met as well.

I feel like I've set a high goal, but it all will help even if I don't meet it, and depending on coverage I am able to get or not for much the care I need it really may just be a small part of the funds I end up needing, but hopefully I can sort that out more as I get my life back together.

I always feel awkward asking for help, usually I prefer to be the one helping others or boosting others mutual aid efforts, but I'm stuck in a rough place and several people have encouraged me to ask for this kind of help right now, so here I am. If you know me outside of Kickstarter and want other options to help or ways to directly donate let me know as well, or just share this around if you can, and please don't overextend yourself on my behalf, leave it to those who can afford to help and just help boost the message.

Thank you

-Iskra M (Puzz)